As we enter October and think about the school year stretching out before us, our hearts and minds are with everyone impacted by Hurricane Helene. Times like this remind us that AVID schools and classrooms are more than places where learning happens. A sense of belonging, safety, the comfort of classroom routines, and even a hot meal are all necessary components of learning. We are organizing ways to help school communities impacted by this catastrophic hurricane. If you or your school would like to contribute to these efforts, please work with your AVID Implementation Strategist as we pull together as a community to support the members of our AVID family in navigating this difficult time.
October is National Principals Month, where we honor the vital role of school leaders. It is during the most difficult times that leadership matters the most. In fact, research shows that “The effects of strong school leadership are greatest in schools in the most difficult circumstances. The greater the challenge, the greater the impact of the leader’s actions on learning,” (Wallace Foundation, 2021). We are grateful to every AVID principal, particularly those of you leading through unimaginably difficult times. Throughout the month, we will share resources and celebrate school leaders making a difference within their school community.
Warm regards,
AVID Center
AVID National Story
Connect With the AVID Community at AVID National Conference 2024!
The 2024–2025 school year is underway, and many of you may be facing challenges in realizing the impact you want to make in your classroom, school, and community. We invite you to bring these challenges and questions to AVID National Conference (NatCon) 2024 this December in Dallas, TX! Join us for 3 inspiring days where you’ll discover the resources, strategies, and collaborative opportunities you need to thrive and accomplish everything you imagined at the start of the year. We believe no problem is too big to solve—it just takes a community working together. That’s the essence of NatCon, and we can’t wait to see you there!
Engage, Collaborate, and Grow
Explore over 80 concurrent sessions on an array of education topics led by fellow educators and AVID staff. Invest in your professional learning with AVID Path to Schoolwide®, offering engaging sessions and valuable resources. Don’t miss our opening keynote featuring Dr. Christie McMullen, Brett Bowers, and Patrick Briggs, who will help you make the most of your NatCon experience. Plus, find inspiration at the General Session, showcasing impactful AVID stories and ways to enhance your influence in the classroom and beyond.
Networking Opportunities
Join thousands of educators and make connections that will deepen your understanding of AVID. Don’t miss our pre-conference networking sessions, including the AVID Elective/Excel Elective Teacher Forum, where you can connect and learn together. Additionally, participate in the pre-conference Leadership Forum to engage in discussions tailored to administrative roles with fellow leaders.
Multiply Your Impact and Celebrate 45 Years of AVID
For nearly 45 years, AVID has been dedicated to closing opportunity gaps. This year, we'll amplify your impact by sharing insights from educators at schools and districts that share our mission. Be a part of a community that believes in collective impact at AVID NatCon 2024!
Join Us!
When: December 12–14, 2024 Where: Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas, TX
Meet Kathleen Giannandrea: AVID District Coordinator Championing Instructional AI
Over 400 AVID districts and 10,000 students leveraged AVID Instructional AI to enrich their learning and teaching experiences this year, and as AI continues to rise in the classroom, it is crucial to understand how to integrate it into your educational practice effectively. That's why this month we’re spotlighting Kathleen Giannandrea, AVID District Coordinator at Orosi High School, for her outstanding efforts in bringing the benefits of AVID Instructional AI to her site. Kathleen has been a trailblazer in implementing AI at her school and has developed actionable strategies for educators and administrators to empower students and prepare them for a college- and career-ready future.
Hear From Kathleen at Our AI Webinar This Thursday, October 10!
You can hear firsthand from Kathleen at our upcoming live webinar, The Classroom of the Future: Integrating AI to Promote Student Agency and AI Literacy, on Thursday, October 10, 2024. This free session will equip you with practical strategies for thoughtfully integrating AI in your classrooms, enhancing student agency and fostering essential AI literacy skills. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert!
Each AVID Community Newsletter will feature a Spotlight story, highlighting the amazing anecdotes out there in the AVID world from educators just like you!
Upcoming at AVID
AVID Emerge™ Virtual Learning Oct. 23–24!
We're thrilled to offer another virtual installment of our AVID Emerge professional learning this October, and registration is now open. This program supports educators in accelerating academic language acquisition for multilingual scholars in grades 6–12.
The 2025 AVID Student Speaker Contest Is Now Open!
Our 2025 AVID Student Speaker Contest is an incredible opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school AVID students to share their voices at AVID Summer Institutes next year. Students can submit an 800–1000-word speech for a chance to win a $500 honorarium, a letter of recommendation from AVID's CEO, and the opportunity to speak on a national stage, with travel and luxury accommodations covered. Don't miss this chance to inspire and make their voices heard. Entries are due by Friday, December 6, 2024!
Professional Learning for District Supervisors and Coaches of School Principals
Transform your school sites with the AVID National Supervisor of Principals Academy! Enrollment for the hybrid learning program is now open, and sessions will start this November and run for 6 months. Participants will gain valuable strategies, access to curated resources, and a clear roadmap to strengthen school leadership and foster sustainability within their educational communities.
Middle School Educators: Join AVID at AMLE Nov. 6–9
Join us at the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) conference in Nashville from November 6–9, 2024! Visit Booth #222 to explore how AVID supports successful middle school students. Don’t miss our concurrent session What's Love Got to Do With It? Neurochemistry's Role in Building Resilient Student Learners on November 7 from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm in Presidential Chamber B.
AVID and Getting Smart’s Amplifying Excellence Initiative Receives Funding
We're thrilled to announce the culmination of a year of dedicated effort within the Educating All Learners Alliance Community of Action. Community members chose this project for funding after an extensive selection process, and now we are ready to share this work's powerful stories and outcomes. The Amplifying Excellence Initiative, a collaboration between AVID and Getting Smart, highlights educators who are making a significant impact in inclusive career education. These remarkable teachers are ensuring that students with disabilities are not only academically prepared but also equipped to pursue their career goals with confidence. Meet the inspiring educators and learn more about their work today!
Facilitating AVID Professional Learning Modules: Enhancing Quality Implementation at Your Site
We have some exciting news that will allow district and site leaders to access our professional learning library to move your district or site closer to your goals. AVID Professional Learning Modules (APLMs) are 90-minute sessions that support quality implementation at sites and across districts. They can be split into two 45-minute segments or delivered as one session, either virtually, blended, or in person. And they can be used alone for short learning opportunities or combined for full or multi-day events.
So, how do you get access? You can access these modules after being trained as a District Facilitator of Professional Learning, either through your AVID District Director or by completing an asynchronous, self-paced training. The asynchronous option can be found on your AVID eLearning dashboard, accessed through the blue My eLearning tile on the MyAVID home page.
To locate the course:
Log in to MyAVID.
Click on the blue My eLearning tile on the right of the home page.
Locate the tile named 2024–25 APLM [District Name].
Complete the training.
Please reach out to your AVID District Director or AVID Implementation Strategist with any questions.
You can find Key Updates in MyAVID for AVID Weeks at a Glance (WAG), AVID Weekly®, and AVID Schoolwide Advisory.
See what's changed! Log in tomy.avid.orgfor the latest updates on WAG, AVID Weekly, and AVID Schoolwide Advisory. Click on Key Updates under the My Action Items section.
AVID Weeks at a Glance (WAG) Update
📆 WAG Term 2 will finish posting on October 15!
Term 2 contains new units on:
Critical Reading and Disciplinary Literacy: Reading.
Opportunity Knowledge: Campus Tours, Career Exploration, Guest Speakers, Community Service, and Fundraising.
The Dell Scholarship is now open! Many of the 500 students selected each year are AVID students from across the country. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2024.
We will update the FAFSA slides (available in Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides) each month to support AVID students and their peers schoolwide.
We have added FAFSA improvements and prototype, state-specific resources this month.
Remember to have students check Tallo regularly for college and career scholarships!
AVID Open Access® Podcasts
If it relates to education and matters to you, we're talking about it on our podcasts.Tune in every Tuesday and Wednesday for a new episode of Tech Talk For Teachers and Unpacking Education.
