YUHSD collaborates with elementary and college educators for second AVID Vertical Team meeting
Administrators, directors, teachers, students, and tutors from Yuma Union High School District, Yuma Elementary District One, Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma came together Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 at the District One offices to strengthen community goals in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).
The group, known as Yuma’s AVID Vertical Team, worked in teams throughout the day with a focus on creating a cohesive action plan between all four educational levels to strengthen the AVID program throughout the Yuma area. It is the second time the team has met, following a debut of the team in May.
“It articulates what key WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading) strategies look like at each level,” YUHSD AVID Coordinator Christal Buckley said. “It was good for the high school to see what is happening at the elementary and middle school level as it supports the work that we are doing with AVID. It also helps to see what the higher education systems expect our students to come in with.”
Yuma County is one of the only places in the country where vertical team collaboration is happening. The group intends to meet again during the second semester.
About AVID
According to their website, AVID is a nonprofit that changes lives by helping schools shift to a more equitable, student-centered approach. They train 80,000 educators annually to close the opportunity gap, so they can prepare all students for college, careers, and life.
Most recently, YUHSD hosted AVID’s Melissa Lopez to provide professional development for a group of nearly 20 teachers and AVID tutors as part of an advanced two-day “tutor-ology” training.