Before the start of classes this year, Tempe Academy of International Studies received recognition from the International Baccalaureate World Organization that its curriculum has achieved a prestigious milestone—award of IB’s gold-standard recognition: accreditation status.
“I will never forget July 15 because, simultaneously, I received the official email from the IB organization, and also a phone call from the school’s IB coordinator, Suzanne Holguin, to announce the great news that Tempe Academy had achieved authorization as an IB Middle Years Program (MYP) World School,” said Marianne McMurrin, principal of Tempe Academy.
Over the past two years, the Tempe Elementary School District and the Tempe Academy of International Studies began the lengthy process of gaining IB recognition.
“Most candidate schools take anywhere between three and five years to receive authorization,” said McMurrin.
“However, with hard work and dedication from students, staff, parents and the community, Tempe Academy received its accreditation in just two years.”
Tempe Academy is located on the McKemy Campus, 2250 E. College Ave. The middle school serves 289 students in sixth to eighth grades and it utilizes the former McKemy Elementary school campus, which closed in 2010.
The administration of the Tempe Elementary District made a commitment to residents to repurpose the school building in a way that would enhance their neighborhood, explained McMurrin.
“After listening to stakeholders and reviewing the needs the school’s community, we began to create a more strategic educational pathway for our students to progress to the Tempe Union High School District.
“Tempe Academy is among the 13 IB-accredited middle schools in Arizona, and we offer a seamless transition to the IB program at Tempe High School.”
Both the Tempe Elementary District and its governing board wanted to offer more educational choices to keep students in the district, while also encouraging growth in out-of-district enrollment.
With the IB program, the district achieved both goals and attracted a student enrollment at Tempe Academy that is nearly 30 percent from outside the district.
The IB organization aspires to help schools to develop well-rounded students, who seek to challenge themselves with a program of academic and personal rigor. Taken as a whole, the curriculum is intended to provide a balanced education that will equip young graduates for effective participation in the modern world.
“When deciding on a name for the new Tempe curriculum, we felt it was important to reflect upon the challenging framework of the IB Middle Years Program and to connect it with our district,” said District Superintendent Christine Busch.
“The name ‘Tempe Academy of International Studies’ truly encompasses the connection between the Tempe Elementary School District, the city of Tempe, the international diversity of our community, and the global education our students are receiving.”
McMurrin says that satisfaction with the program is high among students and parents.
“Students and parents are happy that the IB MYP Program is rigorous, challenging and holistic. Our students explore and discover big ideas across all subject areas. Our learning environment gives students the opportunity to make connections to the real-world through carefully planned IB Units that teach inquiry through key concepts and content, rather than strictly content.
“Parents also are excited that their student is learning how to learn, to ask tough questions about real-world problems, and to create their own projects that showcase what they know, understand, and can do,” said McMurrin.
The curriculum includes academic studies in English (language arts), mathematics, science, social studies, Spanish, PE and the arts, both visual and performing.
McMurrin also finds that teachers are enthusiastic about the program.
“Teachers look forward to teaching every day at Tempe Academy because there is such a sense of community here. Working with our student scholars, who love to learn, are curious, and are hard-working, is a teacher’s dream come true,” said McMurrin.
“Teachers love the open-ended freedom to design conceptual units of study, which engage students at the highest cognitive levels of learning, rather than just teaching grade level content standards, one after the other.
“Working in a school where everyone is always reflecting on their learning and performance, and making plans to improve is an important life skill.”
More information about the IB curriculum and Tempe Academy can be found online at www.tempeschools.org
