Tag Archives: AVID Teachers

AVID teacher Rosa Dockal mentors at-risk students

Posted on by

Rosa Dockal, an AVID teacher in San Antonio, Texas, was just a child and couldn’t speak English when she came to this country as an immigrant. Now she teaches at-risk, first-generation students. Photo Credit: Open Sky Media Publications

I always enjoy sharing stories about inspirational educators from around the country. One of these is Rosa Dockal, a teacher from San Antonio, Texas. She was named one of her District’s Teachers of the Year in 2021.

Rosa currently teaches AVID courses at Travis Early College High School in the San Antonio Independent School District. Her career as an educator spans 25 years. The AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program provides extra support for low-income, minority students. The curriculum involves instruction in note-taking and study skills, tutoring, and mentoring. Most of the students who graduate from the program have earned a high school diploma plus an Associate’s degree and up to 60 college credits from San Antonio College. 

Rosa’s family immigrated to San Antonio from Mexico when she was a pre-schooler. “When I came from Mexico, I didn’t know English, so I knew the struggle of learning a different language. It’s not easy,” Rosa declares. But by the time she was in the fifth grade, she was at the top of her class, and she was placed in a magnet program.

Even though she was the first in her family to graduate from high school, Rosa declared her intent to go to college to become a teacher. “I didn’t know what a FAFSA was,” she admits. “My parents didn’t speak the language, so I had to do it by myself—but I didn’t do it by myself, because I had so many teachers and counselors who helped me,” she says. “If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know if I would have gone,” she confesses.

Rosa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Texas, San Antonio. Once she landed her teaching position at Travis, she began to work with at-risk, first-generation students like herself. In addition to her AVID courses, she also teaches Spanish language classes.

For her exemplary work with young people, Rosa was named one of several teachers in her district as a Teacher of the Year in 2021.

Carolyn Kielma named Connecticut’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Science teacher Carolyn Kielma has been selected Connecticut’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, and she. has been named one of five finalists for National Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: University of New Haven

I always enjoy casting a spotlight on outstanding educators who have been recognized for their work in the classroom. Today we celebrate Carolyn Kielma, a science teacher from Bristol, Connecticut. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year, and she has also been named one of five finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

Carolyn inaugurated her career as a science educator at West Haven High School, where she taught for five years. She currently teaches at Bristol Eastern High School, where she has worked for the past 15 years. She teaches courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, environmental science, and biotechnology and technology. She is also the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) coordinator on her campus. In this role, the honored educator works hard to close the achievement gap by providing opportunities that prepare all students for college readiness and success in a global society.

In addition to these professional responsibilities, Carolyn coordinates STEMonday, a monthly science, technology, engineering and mathematics challenge which connects and builds relationships between elementary and high school students. Furthermore, in 2020 Carolyn garnered a grant from Fund for Teachers to study wolves, bears, and elk at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and in Yellowstone National Park. Then she prepares virtual lessons to share what she has learned with her urban students. And as if all this were not enough, she provides professional development for fellow educators in her district, and she travels nationwide to train teachers in engagement strategies that promote equity and inclusion.

Carolyn says she has always known she would become a teacher. “This was the career I was born to do,” she declares. “I love to be able to help young people realize their worth, discover their strengths and weaknesses, and become better humans,” she continues. “What is most meaningful to me is the connections I am able to make with my students that reach far beyond the classroom walls. I get to help make better humans who can contribute in a positive way to our society. I get to see them grow and develop throughout their high school career and long after,” she concludes.

Carolyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania in 1998. She earned her Master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of New Haven in Connecticut in 2002.

To read more about Carolyn Kielma, see this article about her published by the University of New Haven.

Innovative educator Mary Catherine Swanson: Founder of AVID

Posted on by

Innovative educator Mary Catherine Swanson developed the AVID program to help minority students  develop the skills necessary to succeed in college. Today, the program is employed globally in at least 16 countries.  Photo Credit: www.avid.org

Back in 1980, Clairemont High School in San Diego, California, suddenly faced a court-ordered integration order. Teachers at the predominantly white, suburban, middle-class school knew that their incoming minority students would need extensive remediation. As Clairemont’s staff scrambled for ways to meet the needs of these students, one innovative staff member came up with a groundbreaking idea. That staff member was English teacher Mary Catherine Swanson.

Mary Catherine believed strongly that with appropriate academic tools and support, minority and other under-represented students could succeed in a rigorous academic atmosphere just as well as their Clairemont classmates. To meet their needs, she developed an innovative instructional program called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). The program trained students in strategies for note-taking and test-taking, offered peer mentoring and tutoring, and sponsored cultural field trips.

Mary Catherine’s efforts produced astonishing results. Since the program’s inception, over 400,000 students have participated in the training. The program is so successful that today over 7,000 high schools in 47 states and 16 countries around the world have implemented it. Statistics show that of those students enrolled in AVID, 95% go on to enroll in a four-year college, and 85% of them graduate. To learn more about the AVID program, go to www.avid.org.

The overwhelming success of Mary Catherine’s work has earned her many honors. Among them are an A+ Award for Reaching the Goals of America 2000 from the US Department of Education; the EXCEL Award for Excellence in Teaching; and the Salute to Excellence from the American Association for Higher Education. She has also been recognized with the UC San Diego Remarkable Leader in Education Award and the Distinguished Achievement Award by the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association. She has also been recognized with honorary doctorates from UC San Diego and the University of LaVerne. Both CNN and Time Magazine named her America’s Best Teacher in 2001, and she was one of three 2001 recipients of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr., Prize in Education. Furthermore, Mary Catherine’s contribution to American education has been recognized by Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews, who wrote, “I don’t know any single person in the country who has done more for our school children than AVID founder Mary Catherine Swanson.”

Mary Catherine Swanson retired in 2006, but she will always be known as a genuine Chalkboard Champion.

Keisha Bell Sowell: AVID Coordinator and national soccer player

Posted on by

Keisha Bell Sowell, a former award-winning American soccer player, now works as an AVID Coordinator in Houston, Texas. Photo credit: Keisha Bell Sowell.

Many excellent classroom teachers have also earned acclaim as fine athletes. One of these is Keisha Bell Sowell, a former award-winning American soccer player who now teaches in Houston, Texas.

Keisha was born on December 20, 1979, in Spring, Texas. As a young girl, she attended Klein Oak High School in her home town. While in high school, she played soccer, playing both outside midfielder and defender. She earned All-District honors in 1996.

Once she graduated from high school, Keisha enrolled at University of Florida, where she majored in Sociology. She was a freshman when she became part of the University of Florida team that garnered the 1998 NCAA Championship. Her position was defender. That year, she served on the NCAA Championships All-Tournament Team. In 2001, she was a member of the United States National Team at the Algarve Cup competition, which was held in Portugal. By 2003, she was serving the University of Florida team as a volunteer coach.

Today, Keisha serves as the AVID Coordinator for Woodcreek Middle School in Houston, Texas. She teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grade there. “My passion and joy is investing in kids, especially tweens and young teens,” expresses Keisha. “I embrace each day with a clean slate and hope that just a small piece of what I teach can be instilled in them and impact them for rest of their lives,” she continues.

To learn more about Keisha’s illustrious career as a college soccer player, see this information published by the University of Florida.

Mary Catherine Swanson: The innovative teacher who created the AVID program

Posted on by
Mary Catherine Swanson

Mary Catherine Swanson, original developer of the AVID program.

Back in 1980, Clairemont High School in San Diego, California, suddenly faced a court-ordered integration order. Teachers at the predominantly white, suburban, middle-class school knew that their incoming minority students would need extensive remediation. As Clairemont’s staff scrambled for ways to meet the needs of these students, one innovative staff member came up over with a groundbreaking idea. That staff member was English teacher Mary Catherine Swanson.

Mary Catherine believed strongly that with appropriate academic tools and support, minority and other under-represented students could succeed in a rigorous academic atmosphere just as well as their Clairemont classmates. To meet their needs, she developed an innovative instructional program called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). The program trained students in strategies for note-taking and test-taking, offered peer mentoring and tutoring, and sponsored cultural field trips.

Mary Catherine’s efforts produced astonishing results. Since the program’s inception, over 400,000 students have participated in the training. The program is so successful that today over 5,000 high schools in 45 states and 16 countries around the world have implemented it. Statistics show that of those students enrolled in AVID, 95% go on to enroll in a four-year college, and 85% of them graduate. To learn more about the AVID program, go to www.avid.org.

The overwhelming success of Mary Catherine’s work has earned her many honors. Among them are an A+ Award for Reaching the Goals of America 2000 from the US Department of Education; the EXCEL Award for Excellence in Teaching; and the Salute to Excellence from the American Association for Higher Education. She has also been recognized with the UC San Diego Remarkable Leader in Education Award and the Distinguished Achievement Award by the UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association. She has also been recognized with honorary doctorates from UC San Diego and the University of LaVerne.

Mary Catherine Swanson: truly a chalkboard champion.