Westchester Academy for International Studies authorized to offer International Baccalaureate Program for students in grades 6-10

Officials at Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) received notification Oct. 28 that the district charter middle and high school has been authorized to offer students the five-year Middle Years

Programme (MYP) as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School.

The MYP candidate school received its written authorization from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization after a period as a candidate school. WAIS Director Jennifer Collier formally announced the milestone achievement in a specially called faculty meeting and celebration.


The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is an internationally recognized curriculum for students in grades 6 through 10. The MYP includes eight subject groups, ranging from a foreign language to arts, humanities and technology.


As a part of the MYP higher-level curriculum, 10th-grade students are encouraged to complete a year-long “capstone,” or culminating, Personal Project that focuses on independent study on a chosen study topic. (See below for more details) 

WAIS already offers the two-year IB Diploma Programme, under which seniors may either earn certification or the IB Diploma through an official testing process. It had implemented the full MYP as a candidate school, and will now do so as an IB World School offering MYP and IB Diploma programmes. Such a combined offering is rare in the state and region.

“We are incredibly proud and excited that WAIS has been authorized to offer the Middle Years Programme to our middle and high school students,” school Director Jennifer Collier said. “The authorization process for becoming an IB Middle Years Programme has been quite challenging, but rewarding. Credit for the incredible work involved in this process goes to all of our teachers who collaborated in making this great school dream come true!”

 IBO officials noted that only 13 schools in Texas are now approved to offer both the MYP and the IB Diploma Program, and only two other public school districts – Humble and Houston ISD – currently do so in the Houston region.

“We are proud of the teachers, students and WAIS community for working so hard to earn this additional program authorization. I believe that this is one more positive example of how we are working to provide high quality options for all students to take part in programs that are proven to lead to college-ready diplomas and student graduates,” said SBISD Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D.

“The IB program offers endless possibilities for Spring Branch students who are willing to step up and accept the challenge offered by this internationally recognized program,” he said. “Now, middle and high school students can stretch their goal.”

The rigorous IB program immerses students in engaging, project-based learning and study. IB students are encouraged to understand their own culture, to ask challenging questions, develop high-level research skills, learn to reflect critically and “learn how to learn.” Students take part in community service, among other goals.

SBISD’s Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Pamela Butler, was WAIS’s founding director. For her, today’s MYP authorization is an outside, third-party indication that a district charter school that began more than a decade ago with 100 or so students has a bright future. WAIS now enrolls about 1,000 students.

Elliott Witney, district Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and innovation, was interviewed by the IB Organization along with Executive Director Butler and others by IB Organization Schools Division staff.

“Many consider the IB curriculum the best curriculum in the world. We hear from our WAIS alumni who tackled the IB challenge in high school that they felt incredibly prepared for higher education. We are thrilled to extend that curriculum to our middle school students so that they are even more prepared for higher education when they graduate,” Witney said.

WAIS officials credited several staff members for their hard work and especially long hours involved in MYP authorization. They include Cheryl Wegscheid, Middle Years Programme coordinator; Kathy Menotti, assistant director; Doris Gates, instructional coach; and MYP Steering Committee members Valerie Harelson, diploma program coordinator, Sara Sebesta-Camano, Shaun Wegscheid, and Seda Dawson.

Facts about the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) was introduced in 1994.

The MYP will consist of eight subject groups: a Main Language and a Foreign Language; Mathematics; Sciences; Fine Arts, Physical Education/Health Fitness; Technology; and the Humanities, also known as Social Studies.

Students receive instruction in all eight areas yearly in grades 6-10, with a “capstone” project in 10th grade known as the Personal Project, a year-long independent study on one topic the student selects. Students may earn a MYP Certificate or a Bilingual MYP Certificate upon completion of 10th grade.

The MYP is guided by three fundamental concepts:

 · Holistic Learning – Representing the notion that all knowledge is interrelated

 · Intercultural Awareness – Engaging with and exploring other cultures considering multiple viewpoints

 · Communication – Encouraging in open and effective communication contributing to international understanding

 WAIS timeline for MYP Authorization

 · In October 2007, teachers and administrators attended an IB Orientation Seminar to learn more about the Middle Years Programme, grades 6-10 (MYP)

 · In 2009, teachers and staff began attending training on MYP Curriculum and the IB

 · In May 2010, WAIS submitted a MYP Interested Schools Form to IB Organization.

 · In August 2011, WAIS submitted a MYP Candidacy Application

 · In September, 2011 WAIS became a MYP Candidate School; a MYP consultant assigned later that school year · In May 2012, a consultant visited and reviewed documents, work samples, the school policies for IB, and met with teachers, staff and students. The Consultant Report was provided to WAIS and IB, and recommendations provided for direction and staff input and development

 · In September 2012, WAIS submitted its MYP Authorization Application

 Currently, a majority (79%) of WAIS faculty and staff are MYP trained through authorized IB training sessions.