Latest news with #IDEAPublicSchools
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New IDEA Lopez principal eager to start
Mar. 21—Becoming principal at the new IDEA Lopez campus in Odessa is a gratifying milestone for Larry D. Moore II. "I'm just really, really excited. I feel like, on a personal level, it's just the fulfillment of a dream," Moore said. Moore is in his third year of being with IDEA Public Schools having taught sixth and seventh grade English, served as assistant principal of instruction at IDEA Yukon for the middle school and now as principal in residence. As a principal in residence, Moore is in training and he was placed at a campus of high need, which is IDEA Travis in Midland. "We've seen significant growth in ELA, but also across the board. So making good strides there as well," Moore said. Moore loves teaching and when he first started, he told himself he would never be an administrator. "But as you learn the skills, you just have to take on the responsibility to teach others. I'm really excited both for training teachers, training other leaders, but most of all, just having kids come through the door and giving them those specific skills that they need to do well," he added. One of the biggest differences at IDEA is the emphasis on mastery of subject areas, Moore said. "I know that there are schools all around the country going to standards-based grading and those types of things, but even then, what I've seen at IDEA is just a focus on kids meeting the standards and mastering the standards, rather than just doing the standards. The way that we track the data just makes it natural to always know where all of your kids are, to know what percentage are close to the line, and then it helps you to strategize to get them over that line," he added. According to the website, standards-based grading measures students on the mastery of specific learning objectives. IDEA's kindergarten program is focused on literacy and making sure that they get 100% of scholars reading on grade level by the time they're in third grade. "Because we know the research says that that's one of the biggest indicators, even that young, of them being able to go to college. ... We realize that in order to do that, you need to have a teacher, but you also need to have that co-teacher that can deliver the more targeted reading instruction and work with those scholars that might be below the benchmark at that point," Moore said. The co-teaching model is a staple for the younger grades at IDEA campuses. "We're gearing up to be able to do that at Lopez as well," Moore said. He added that teacher hiring is going well, but there are definitely still opportunities. There are also several opportunities for assistant principal candidates. They will start with kindergarten through second grade and sixth grade. The next year, they will add a grade for the Academy (the younger grades) and the college prep side. For example, the second year, they will be kindergarten through third grade and sixth and seventh grade. The third year, they will have kindergarten through fourth grade and grades six, seven and eight. "We'll continue to grow until we have 12th graders that are on the way to college," Moore said. Registration letters have been sent out and the campus is almost fully enrolled with 125 scholars in every grade they are offering. Moore said once people start getting to the process of registering, there are people who may decide to go to other campuses. "So if anybody wanted to apply, still, (there's) definitely a chance that you would be able to come," he added. The waiting list for IDEA Lopez is relatively short with 10 to 12 students in each grade. "I think we provide an amazing alternative to the traditional way of thinking about school. I know that a lot of people like the change of scenery when you graduate from fifth grade, and then you go to a brand new school, and then graduate from eighth grade, go to a brand new high school," Moore said. But the continuity that IDEA provides also is appealing. Moore said IDEA wants its students to be able to write excellent essays. "From the third grade, we're teaching them the exact method that they're going to use in middle school, a pared down version, but it's the method they'll use in middle school, which is the method that they'll use in high school, so that continuity allows them to grow and blossom using those same skills that they've been being taught for their whole academic career," Moore said. "It also provides, I would say, a sense of pride. They're going to an institution that has sent literally almost 100% of scholars that have come through the doors and graduated to some type of higher education institution. We serve 87,000 students. I think it's a promise that we make and we are able to keep. I think that that can be very exciting, not only for scholars, they're so young, but definitely exciting for families," he added. Before joining IDEA, Moore was with Des Moines Public Schools for several years and then the Academy of Math and Science in Arizona. "This is my third big educational stop," Moore said. He noted that he has always thought of himself as a very good teacher, but IDEA made him great. "I felt great very, very quickly. Teachers go through a training called New Teachers Institute, and it fills your toolbox with tips and tricks, not only for ways to improve culture and student buy-in in the classroom, but it also changes your thinking around how to get your kids to own the learning. I've always been a very good teacher. I've always had great relationships with students, and IDEA was able to teach me how to turn that into (a) better way to ... get the skills across," Moore said. Because students are asked to work hard and wear uniforms, IDEA balances that out with school spirit, pride and celebrations of everything from test scores and academic success to ensuring integrity, for example. They will also have end of quarter celebrations. "We are excited for Larry to lead our newest campus in the Permian Basin region next year, IDEA Lopez," said Annette Macias, Executive Director for IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin. "His dedication and passion for our families and staff is infectious and we look forward to watching our students excel and grow on their path to and through college under his leadership." Moore grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in theater and education at Truman State in Kirksville, Mo. He earned a master's of education in English, theater and rhetoric from Drake University in Des Moines. "(I've) been a spoken word poet for years and years, made the Phoenix slam team ... I've also been a performer and a singer most of my life, so the arts have definitely played a huge role. (I'm) really looking forward to bringing that to West Odessa, probably something that it hasn't seen a lot," Moore said.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jacksonville IDEA Public Schools hosting student lottery for next school year
IDEA Public Schools is hosting the 2025-26 school year lottery on Saturday. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Names will be selected randomly by grade, with spots offered in the order of selection. When capacity for each grade is reached, the remaining applicants will be put on a waiting list in random order. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Parents will receive a notification once the lottery is over. Only applications filled out before Feb. 14 at 11:59 p.m. will be eligible for the lottery. Applications submitted after the lottery will be granted seats if available or added to the wait list in order of the date and time of their application. Click here to apply. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IDEA Permian Basin to host student lottery for families hoping to enroll their children
PERMIAN BASIN, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Families hoping to enroll their children in IDEA Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year will soon learn their placement status after the school's annual student lottery on Saturday, February 15. According to the press release, the names of students randomly selected for seats at the IDEA Yukon and IDEA Lopez campuses will be announced during the event. 'We want to invite new families to be part of the transformational change we are making at IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin,' said Dr. Annette Macias, Executive Director of IDEA Public Schools in the region. 'We are especially looking forward to welcoming students to our new campus, IDEA Lopez Academy and College Preparatory.' During the lottery, students' names will be selected randomly by grade level. Seats are offered in the order drawn, and once all spots are filled, the remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist in randomized order. Families will receive notifications via email or text message once the lottery process is complete. Also education: Reforming standardized testing in Texas: a break down of House Bill 221 According to IDEA Public Schools, in order to be eligible for the lottery, applications must be submitted by February 14 at 11:59 p.m., and any applications submitted after this deadline will only be considered if space becomes available, or applicants will be placed on a waitlist in order of submission time. Families interested in enrolling their children at IDEA Public Schools can apply online at IDEA Travis in Midland also participates in Midland ISD's Apply Midland application and lottery process, which can be found via Apply Midland. Currently, IDEA Permian Basin serves more than 2,500 students across its schools. Next year, IDEA Yukon Academy and College Preparatory will expand by adding another grade level, serving students in grades K-10. Additionally, the new IDEA Lopez Academy and College Preparatory will open in Odessa, initially serving students in grades K-2 and 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IDEA Permian Basin to host its student lottery for 2025-26 school year
Feb. 12—IDEA — Public Schools will host its student lottery for the 2025-26 school year Feb. 15. During the lottery, IDEA will announce the names of students randomly selected for seats at IDEA Yukon and IDEA Lopez for the 2025-26 school year. "We want to invite new families to be part of the transformational change we are making at IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin," Annette Macias, Executive Director of IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin, said in a news release issued Feb. 12. "We are especially looking forward to welcoming students to our new campus, IDEA Lopez Academy and College Preparatory." IDEA Permian Basin currently serves more than 2,500 students. Next year, IDEA Yukon Academy and College Preparatory will add a new grade level to the campus, serving students in grades K-10. IDEA Permian Basin will also open its new campus, IDEA Lopez Academy and College Preparatory in Odessa, for the 2025-26 school year. The school will serve students in grades K-2 and 6 during its first year. For the past 17 years, IDEA has achieved nearly 100% college acceptance among seniors while maintaining a college graduation rate five times the national average for students from low-income communities. During the lottery process, names are selected at random by grade, with spots offered in the order of selection. When the capacity is reached for each grade level, the remaining applications will be assigned a position on a waiting list in a randomized order. Once the lottery is complete, parents or guardians will receive a notification according to their preferred method of contact (email and/or text message). Only applications completed before the deadline of Feb. 14 at 11:59 p.m. will be eligible for the lottery. Applications submitted after the lottery deadline are only granted seats if space is available or applicants will be added to the wait list in order of the date and time of their application. Families can apply now at IDEA Travis in Midland participates in Midland ISD's Apply Midland application and lottery process, which can be found via Apply Midland.
