Morton unveils strategy to tear down barriers for students
Morton unveils strategy to tear down barriers for students
Hispanics benefit from stronger push for AP Programs under District 201 leadership
Morton High School District 201 School Supt. Dr. Michael Kuzniewski
Morton High School District 201 President Jeffry “Jeff” Pesek presented a detailed overview of how his school is able to create new opportunities for students, especially in achieving Advance Placement at a conference for Latinos in New Orleans earlier this month.
Pesek told the gathering of educators that every student should have the opportunity of Advanced Placement, saying Open Enrollment is a necessity that when implemented produces results in the student’s behavior as well as in the student’s grades.
Morton High School District has made great strides in improving our students’ access to challenging Advanced Placement courses, and their success on AP exams. As you will hear during the next hour, or so, the schools, and especially the teachers, have embraced an open enrollment policy for AP and gone the extra mile to ensure that students and their parents are supported in the process.
“The number of students who have enrolled in AP Courses has increased significantly since 2005,” Pesek said, citing statistics accumulated over the past decade.
“In 2005, there were only 294 students in AP classes. Ten years later, there are now 2,048 students taking AP Courses. That increase is significant and reflects our commitment to ensuring our students receive the best education through the availability of the best educational opportunities and programs.”
Morton operates four school facilities: Morton East, Morton West, the Freshman Center, and the Alternative School. The schools largest populations are Hispanics (87 percent) and Whites (7 percent.) Pesek noted that 88 percent of the students come from low income families.
“Every student graduates taking at least one AP or Dual Credit course,” Pesek said.
“The reality is that 20% of Latinos taking at least 1 AP Course in Illinois attend Morton High school. Of our students, 32% of upper grades students enrolled in at least one AP course. And, 31% of students who took AP exams received 3-plus.”
Morton High School District 201 School Board President Jeffry Pesek (2nd from right) rolls up his sleeves and works hard to promote the “Mustang Nation”
Board President Jeff Pesek shared data that showed that overall, 23% of Morton Class of 2014 earned a 3+ on at least one AP exam; national average was 20%; Morton boasts 65 AP Scholars, 6 with Honors, 11 with Distinction, 2 National Scholars.
Morton offers 21 AP courses during the 2014-2015 academic year, he noted. This year, more than 150 Freshmen have enrolled in AP World History course.
“Our schools, and especially our teachers, have embraced an open enrollment policy for AP and gone the extra mile to ensure that students and their parents are supported in the process. Let me introduce the teachers representing Mustang Nation today. The Board and I are extremely proud of them,” Pesek told the packed gathering.
The 9th annual education leadership conference was titled “Preparate: Educating Latinos for the Future of America.” It was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans March 9 & 10, 2015.
The conference audience consisted of school counselors, college admissions and outreach coordinators, K-12 and higher education administrators, community leaders, legislators, policymakers, financial aid administrators, parent engagement coordinators and teachers.
Pesek cited specific examples of successes at Morton High school that have resulted in high student achievement and the instructors who helped make those achievements a reality at Morton High School.
“Barbara Kane is an Advance Placement Calculus teacher,” Pesek noted. “Over the past several years her students have consistently scored at high levels on the AP exam. In 2013, more than 75% of her students earned a 3 or higher in Calculus AB. In 2014, more than 60% of her BC students earned 3’s or better in the first year Morton offered the course.”
In 2014 more than 90% of the students at Morton East scored 3 or higher in AP Spanish Language, and 64% of students earned 3 or higher in AP Spanish Literature, Pesek said thanks in a large part to the efforts of Mirella Borjon, an Advanced Placement Spanish teacher and Modern Language Lead teacher.
“James Conley is an Advanced Placement World History teacher and Social Science Lead Teacher and he spearheaded the initiation of the AP World History course last year,” Pesek said.
“In what he convincingly argues is the most difficult of all the social science AP courses, 35% of students, all freshmen, earned 3 or higher on the AP exam last spring.”
Since becoming Superintendent in 2008, Dr. Mike Kuzniewski has led the charge to increase AP enrollment and success. His belief in Advanced Placement as a nationally recognized measure of college readiness is evident in his support of the program. He has committed this support while making tough decisions to maintain a balanced budget in an era of great challenges for school funding in Illinois and across the nation.
Pesek walked the attendees through a lengthy Power Point presentation that addressed the fundamentals of Morton’s successes in preparing and supporting traditionally under-represented students to excel in Advanced Placement Courses.
For more information on Morton High School District 201, visit www.morton201.org.
Managing Editor at Illinois News Network
Latest posts by admin (see all)
Related
Blog Posts
Morton unveils strategy to tear down barriers for students
Morton unveils strategy to tear down barriers for students
Hispanics benefit from stronger push for AP Programs under District 201 leadership
Morton High School District 201 School Supt. Dr. Michael Kuzniewski
Morton High School District 201 President Jeffry “Jeff” Pesek presented a detailed overview of how his school is able to create new opportunities for students, especially in achieving Advance Placement at a conference for Latinos in New Orleans earlier this month.
Pesek told the gathering of educators that every student should have the opportunity of Advanced Placement, saying Open Enrollment is a necessity that when implemented produces results in the student’s behavior as well as in the student’s grades.
Morton High School District has made great strides in improving our students’ access to challenging Advanced Placement courses, and their success on AP exams. As you will hear during the next hour, or so, the schools, and especially the teachers, have embraced an open enrollment policy for AP and gone the extra mile to ensure that students and their parents are supported in the process.
“The number of students who have enrolled in AP Courses has increased significantly since 2005,” Pesek said, citing statistics accumulated over the past decade.
“In 2005, there were only 294 students in AP classes. Ten years later, there are now 2,048 students taking AP Courses. That increase is significant and reflects our commitment to ensuring our students receive the best education through the availability of the best educational opportunities and programs.”
Morton operates four school facilities: Morton East, Morton West, the Freshman Center, and the Alternative School. The schools largest populations are Hispanics (87 percent) and Whites (7 percent.) Pesek noted that 88 percent of the students come from low income families.
“Every student graduates taking at least one AP or Dual Credit course,” Pesek said.
“The reality is that 20% of Latinos taking at least 1 AP Course in Illinois attend Morton High school. Of our students, 32% of upper grades students enrolled in at least one AP course. And, 31% of students who took AP exams received 3-plus.”
Morton High School District 201 School Board President Jeffry Pesek (2nd from right) rolls up his sleeves and works hard to promote the “Mustang Nation”
Board President Jeff Pesek shared data that showed that overall, 23% of Morton Class of 2014 earned a 3+ on at least one AP exam; national average was 20%; Morton boasts 65 AP Scholars, 6 with Honors, 11 with Distinction, 2 National Scholars.
Morton offers 21 AP courses during the 2014-2015 academic year, he noted. This year, more than 150 Freshmen have enrolled in AP World History course.
“Our schools, and especially our teachers, have embraced an open enrollment policy for AP and gone the extra mile to ensure that students and their parents are supported in the process. Let me introduce the teachers representing Mustang Nation today. The Board and I are extremely proud of them,” Pesek told the packed gathering.
The 9th annual education leadership conference was titled “Preparate: Educating Latinos for the Future of America.” It was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans March 9 & 10, 2015.
The conference audience consisted of school counselors, college admissions and outreach coordinators, K-12 and higher education administrators, community leaders, legislators, policymakers, financial aid administrators, parent engagement coordinators and teachers.
Pesek cited specific examples of successes at Morton High school that have resulted in high student achievement and the instructors who helped make those achievements a reality at Morton High School.
“Barbara Kane is an Advance Placement Calculus teacher,” Pesek noted. “Over the past several years her students have consistently scored at high levels on the AP exam. In 2013, more than 75% of her students earned a 3 or higher in Calculus AB. In 2014, more than 60% of her BC students earned 3’s or better in the first year Morton offered the course.”
In 2014 more than 90% of the students at Morton East scored 3 or higher in AP Spanish Language, and 64% of students earned 3 or higher in AP Spanish Literature, Pesek said thanks in a large part to the efforts of Mirella Borjon, an Advanced Placement Spanish teacher and Modern Language Lead teacher.
“James Conley is an Advanced Placement World History teacher and Social Science Lead Teacher and he spearheaded the initiation of the AP World History course last year,” Pesek said.
“In what he convincingly argues is the most difficult of all the social science AP courses, 35% of students, all freshmen, earned 3 or higher on the AP exam last spring.”
Since becoming Superintendent in 2008, Dr. Mike Kuzniewski has led the charge to increase AP enrollment and success. His belief in Advanced Placement as a nationally recognized measure of college readiness is evident in his support of the program. He has committed this support while making tough decisions to maintain a balanced budget in an era of great challenges for school funding in Illinois and across the nation.
Pesek walked the attendees through a lengthy Power Point presentation that addressed the fundamentals of Morton’s successes in preparing and supporting traditionally under-represented students to excel in Advanced Placement Courses.
For more information on Morton High School District 201, visit www.morton201.org.
admin
Latest posts by admin (see all)
Share this:
Related