It’s Maynard Evans High School — an IB World School since April 2008, offering the IB Middle Years Program and authorized to offer the IB Diploma Program since December 2008. That’s correct!
Beginning with 75 students in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, there are now over 350 students in the program, even as Evans High awaits a new state-of-the-art campus early next year. Two students earned IB Diplomas from Evans’ first graduating class in 2010 and 28 students in the program received 47 college level credits.
Designed as an academically challenging and balanced program of education that prepares students for success at university and life beyond, it’s easy to see why Katherine Abreu, Zandra Walker and Jamesha John-Lewis are in the IB Program.
“I have always been in advanced classes as I like to challenge myself,” Katherine, a senior in the IB program declares. “I started the IB Program in 9th grade and it will allow me to have a great foundation for college.”
The IB Program has helped develop her organizational, planning and listening skills, Katherine says. She has her sights set on becoming an engineer and plans to go either to UF or UCF, to pursue her “life goals”, as she puts it.
Zandra, another senior, agrees that the IB Program has been great in helping her obtain a breath of experience, at a higher level in several courses including experimental sciences, mathematics and social studies.
Moving from Ocala, Zandra first went to Meadowbrook Middle School in Orlando then transferred to Evans.
At 17 years, unless the question is posed and answered, one is unaware of the enormous responsibilities Zandra carries outside of the classroom. From a single parent household whose Mom is legally disabled, she is the oldest of seven children, including nieces and nephews who live at home. Nonetheless, her sense of purpose and career goals are clear, even at this point.
Zandra says the IB Program has exposed her to lots of different career paths and she wants to become a doctor, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
“The IB Program allows you to grow and develop,” she said. “Although the program is hard, its well worth it.”
But, the IB Program is not only about academic achievement and excellence–all three students have worked on various community projects and are members of several societies and organizations.
Katherine and Zandra, recently undertook internships with the Pine Hills Redevelopment Task Force, conducting a survey to determine the needs and requirements of businesses and residents in the area.
“The IB Program opens many opportunities,” Jamesha, a freshman in the IB Program said. She came from Robinswood Middle School to the Evans IB Program and has learned to manage her time better, completing assignments way ahead of schedule.
Jamesha, who is a straight ‘A’ student says, “I don’t like to get a ‘B’.” From age 12, she has known that she would like to become a surgeon.
“My mom is a medical assistant for a doctor and I went with her to do a small operation,” she said. “Since then, I have always known the career path I would like to follow.” She is curious when it comes to anything in the medical profession, she says.
Notwithstanding the rigors of the IB Program, Jamesha, who like Zandra is an IB Ambassador says, she still finds time to spend with her family and to do other things, like going to church.
The IB Program is tough and challenging, but all three students say, they are where they are because of Jennifer Bohn, the Evans High IB Co-Coordinator.
Described as a “second mom,” by Katherine, Bohn disarms you from the get go, but there is a passion and determination that is unmistakable when she talks about her students and the IB Program.
“The students in the IB Program at Evans demonstrate a level of perseverance that surpasses most of their peers. They are diligent in their pursuit of higher education and creating a better world for all,” Bohn said. “The IB Program at Evans affords them the opportunity to engage in rigorous coursework while fully developing as a young adult.”
Evans High Assistant Principal, Jeff Davis says, he has very high hopes and expectations for students in the IB Program and that the school would “want to make it as inclusive as possible.”
