Preparing High School Students for a Preparing High School Students for a meaningful & Satisfying college lifemeaningful & Satisfying college lifeThe Morfosis Model of ACS AthensThe Morfosis Model of ACS Athens

Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.DStefanos Gialamas, Ph.DPresident, ACS AthensPresident, ACS Athens

Peggy Pelonis, LMFT, Ed.D (C)Peggy Pelonis, LMFT, Ed.D (C)Director of Student AffairsDirector of Student Affairs

Thirty-Eighth National Assembly of the American Association of University Administrators

Arlington, Virginia - November 5-7, 2009

RetentionRetentionOur preliminary findings indicate that retention Our preliminary findings indicate that retention

is a bi-product of successful high school is a bi-product of successful high school student preparation for a meaningful and student preparation for a meaningful and satisfying college lifesatisfying college life

Change in educationChange in education

Challenging to prepare students for at least four different careers

Opportunity for collaboration between secondary and higher education institutions

Educators should be asking:Educators should be asking:How and what will we teach students in How and what will we teach students in preparation for a rapidly changing society?preparation for a rapidly changing society?

How will they learn to make decisions about How will they learn to make decisions about situations unknown and unpredictable?situations unknown and unpredictable?

What skills will be necessary for young people What skills will be necessary for young people to be successful in their careers and in their to be successful in their careers and in their life?life?

Research on ResiliencyResearch on Resiliency

“ “ An environment which offers social support An environment which offers social support such as feelings of belonging and such as feelings of belonging and connectedness, impacts achievement connectedness, impacts achievement significantly”. significantly”.

Nicoll (2009)Nicoll (2009)

Support and opportunitiesSupport and opportunities

“ “ providing protective environmental factors” providing protective environmental factors” (support and opportunities) predicts positive (support and opportunities) predicts positive outcomes in 50-80% of at-risk youth outcomes in 50-80% of at-risk youth populations”populations”

(Werner & Smith, 2001(Werner & Smith, 2001). ).

Transcending BoundariesTranscending Boundaries

Moreover, “the positive impacts of a protective Moreover, “the positive impacts of a protective environment transcend ethnic, gender, environment transcend ethnic, gender, cultural, social class, and geographical cultural, social class, and geographical boundaries” boundaries”

Eccels & Gootman, 2002; Werner & Smith, Eccels & Gootman, 2002; Werner & Smith, 1992 1992

In creating a culture of continuous critical and In creating a culture of continuous critical and innovative thinkinginnovative thinking

In understanding that opportunities for learning In understanding that opportunities for learning come from many sources: multiple perspectives, come from many sources: multiple perspectives, personal experiences, social, cultural personal experiences, social, cultural experiences, community serviceexperiences, community service

In providing opportunities for individual learning In providing opportunities for individual learning and life-long growthand life-long growth

In having a vision so strong that meaningful In having a vision so strong that meaningful change can be embracedchange can be embraced

Schools are required to assume Schools are required to assume leadership:leadership:

Morfosis: Holistic, Meaningful and Morfosis: Holistic, Meaningful and Harmonious EducationHarmonious Education

HolisticHolistic:: Combines all aspects of learning Combines all aspects of learning

Meaningful:Meaningful: Learning is connected to what is Learning is connected to what is important and relevant in students’ lives, and important and relevant in students’ lives, and is based on strong principles and valuesis based on strong principles and values

HarmoniousHarmonious:: All dimensions of teaching and All dimensions of teaching and learning cohere: mission, beliefs, principles, learning cohere: mission, beliefs, principles, values and practices.values and practices.

ACS Athens ACS Athens MissionMission

ACS Athens is a student-centered ACS Athens is a student-centered international international school, embracing school, embracing American American educational philosophy, principles and educational philosophy, principles and valuesvalues. Through excellence in teaching and . Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges all students to realize Athens challenges all students to realize their their unique potential:unique potential: academically, academically, intellectually, socially and ethically --intellectually, socially and ethically -- to to thrive as responsible global citizens.thrive as responsible global citizens.

ACS Athens Aims:ACS Athens Aims:100% of ACS Athens students have a 100% of ACS Athens students have a successful and meaningful college successful and meaningful college experienceexperience100% of ACS Athens students are 100% of ACS Athens students are positive, contributing members of positive, contributing members of the communitythe community

Understanding the educational Understanding the educational spectrumspectrum

Secondary Educational environmentSecondary Educational environment– Teachers must understand the corresponding Teachers must understand the corresponding

college freshman curriculumcollege freshman curriculum– Determine skills students need to develop and Determine skills students need to develop and

eventually transfer to collegeeventually transfer to college– Leaders must provide opportunity for teachers to Leaders must provide opportunity for teachers to

understand the higher education curriculum and understand the higher education curriculum and cultureculture

Understanding the educational Understanding the educational spectrumspectrum

Higher education faculty must understand: Higher education faculty must understand: – the tail end of the secondary curriculum the tail end of the secondary curriculum – The idiosyncrasies of the new learnerThe idiosyncrasies of the new learner– How teaching and learning occurs at the secondary How teaching and learning occurs at the secondary

level.level.

Secondary and Higher education Secondary and Higher education leadersleaders

Must understand:Must understand:– The strengths and weaknesses of the The strengths and weaknesses of the

corresponding environmentscorresponding environments– The academic demandsThe academic demands– Individual student needsIndividual student needs– Faculty-student interactionsFaculty-student interactions– The systems and procedures of the corresponding The systems and procedures of the corresponding

environmentsenvironments– The type of support necessaryThe type of support necessary

Develop Reciprocal RelationshipsDevelop Reciprocal RelationshipsPartnerships (i.e. joint programs)Partnerships (i.e. joint programs)Collaborations (utilization of resources)Collaborations (utilization of resources)Exploring College Life programs Exploring College Life programs College Student Teaching programsCollege Student Teaching programsCounseling internship programsCounseling internship programsSabbaticals (both ways)Sabbaticals (both ways)

Bridging must take place at all levelsBridging must take place at all levels: :

ElementaryElementaryMiddleMiddleHigh SchoolHigh SchoolBeyond…..Beyond…..

A K-12 ProcessA K-12 ProcessElementary- FoundationsElementary- Foundations

Technology in JK and K (i.e. Technology in JK and K (i.e. Smartboards)Smartboards)Wellness Center -Coping skills via role Wellness Center -Coping skills via role playing, problem solvingplaying, problem solvingOwl system- buddies to help newcomers Owl system- buddies to help newcomers acclimateacclimateActivities for team building and Activities for team building and cooperationcooperation

Middle SchoolMiddle SchoolStrong curriculumStrong curriculumEnhancing sense of security and of belonging Enhancing sense of security and of belonging at a time of personal changeat a time of personal changeConsidering physical, intellectual & emotional Considering physical, intellectual & emotional well beingwell beingBuilding skills necessary to succeed in 9Building skills necessary to succeed in 9 thth & & 1010thth grade. grade.i.e. Tech- Virtual Science Fairi.e. Tech- Virtual Science Fair

AcademyAcademy99thth – cultivate and enhance sense of belonging – cultivate and enhance sense of belonging

1010thth – design best program per student– design best program per student

1111thth – Meet conditions for college via – Meet conditions for college via SAT SAT prep, Portfolios (PAAM) etc.prep, Portfolios (PAAM) etc.

1212thth – Prepare for Optimal Match – Prepare for Optimal Match

Courses on Blackboard so Tech is naturally integrated.Courses on Blackboard so Tech is naturally integrated.

Institute of Critical and Creative Institute of Critical and Creative ThinkingThinking

Established in 2006Established in 2006Committed to innovation and creativity by Committed to innovation and creativity by expanding learning opportunities for ACS expanding learning opportunities for ACS Athens students, staff and communityAthens students, staff and communityPartnerships with universitiesPartnerships with universitiesUniversity level courses University level courses for students and teachersfor students and teachersArts programsArts programs IB Diploma/College Prep AcademyIB Diploma/College Prep AcademyOn line and hybrid courses.On line and hybrid courses.Adult education programsAdult education programs

Beyond Placement…Beyond Placement…

Follow up to see university successFollow up to see university successSuccessful students reinforce the Optimal Successful students reinforce the Optimal Match approachMatch approachEach time cycle is completed process is Each time cycle is completed process is enhancedenhancedAction research with ACS Athens 2006 Action research with ACS Athens 2006 graduates who will be graduating from USA graduates who will be graduating from USA universities in June 2010universities in June 2010

Most successful college student is the one who is happy with Most successful college student is the one who is happy with the areas of their studies and with the institutionthe areas of their studies and with the institution

ACS Athens college success action ACS Athens college success action researchresearch

Students who participated in any ‘bridging’ Students who participated in any ‘bridging’ program addressed the followingprogram addressed the following– How well they performed in courses related to the How well they performed in courses related to the

relevant programrelevant program– How well students performed overall academically.How well students performed overall academically.– How many students proceeded to graduate school?How many students proceeded to graduate school?

Their subjective evaluation of the ‘bridging’ experienceTheir subjective evaluation of the ‘bridging’ experience How well did students adapt to their new environment How well did students adapt to their new environment

emotionallyemotionally To what degree to they find the college experience To what degree to they find the college experience

satisfactorysatisfactory

Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.DStefanos Gialamas, Ph.DPresident, ACS AthensPresident, ACS Athens

Peggy Pelonis, LMFT, Ed.D (C)Peggy Pelonis, LMFT, Ed.D (C)Director of Student AffairsDirector of Student Affairs

Thirty-Eighth National Assembly of the American Association of University Administrators

Arlington, Virginia - November 5-7, 2009