​​Haltom High School ​Receives National Recognition for High Performance

Haltom High School has been selected as a National Demonstration School by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a nonprofit organization that provides educators with proven, real-world strategies to accelerate the performance of underrepresented students so that these students and all students across the entire campus succeed in college, careers, and life. 

The school joins approximately 200 other AVID National Demonstration Schools and was selected through an application process, screening, and review, which included a site visit. AVID is implemented in more than 8,000 schools in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia, impacting more than 2 million students in grades PreK–12 and postsecondary institutions. 

AVID Chief Executive Officer Thuan Nguyen notes the significance of attaining Demonstration Site recognition. “Schools recognized as National Demonstration Sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID Elective course and take the strategies schoolwide to impact all students,” says Nguyen. “Haltom High was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites.” 

The recognition of being an AVID National Demonstration School was established in 1993 with a $250,000 award from the Charles A. Dana Foundation of New York. As part of the AVID Demonstration Sites network, sites are expected to develop a model program with schoolwide participation. With AVID’s proven methodologies used throughout subject-area classes, performance levels improve for all students, but especially for those students who are the least likely to attend four-year colleges. Schools from around the world that are preparing to implement the AVID system will visit Demonstration Schools, such as this one, to observe a highly evolved AVID system. 

Dr. Kristi Strickland, Haltom High’s principal, is pleased that the school was chosen as an AVID National Demonstration School, noting the impact of the program on staff and students. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a National Demo Site, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole,” said ​Strickland. “The use of AVID strategies schoolwide has positively impacted students and staff, and we continue to see a more engaged and college-ready student body.” 

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ABOUT AVID 

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a nonprofit, proven college-readiness system that closes the opportunity gap. Today, more than 8,000 schools in more than 1,300 districts rely on AVID in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia. AVID impacts more than 2 million students in grades PreK–12 and those attending two- or four-year colleges and universities. The AVID College and Career Readiness System transforms a school’s academic culture by increasing the number of students who enroll in postsecondary experiences leading to a college degree and/or successful transition into the workforce. For more information, please visit www.AVID.org and hear what our educators and students have to say. 

Superintendent Announces Haltom High School Head Girls Basketball Coach 

BISD Superintendent, Dr. Gayle Stinson, recently announced the appointment of Shannon Fears to the position of head girls basketball coach for Haltom High School.  

Fears has been the assistant junior varsity and varsity basketball coach at Haltom High School since 2008, and ninth-grade and assistant varsity volleyball coach at Haltom High School from 2008–19. Before Haltom High, she was an assistant coach for the University of North Texas women’s basketball team from 2007–08, and assistant varsity girls basketball coach, head freshman girls basketball coach, freshman volleyball coach and junior varsity softball coach at Carroll Senior High from 2004–08. 

Academically, she serves at the special education department chair at Haltom High. 

As a collegiate basketball player, Fears received the following awards:  

  • Four-year letter winner 1997–2002;  
  • Sunbelt Conference First Team All-Conference in 2002; 
  • Voted as team’s Best Offensive Player in 2002; and  
  • Earned the team’s Leading Rebounder Award in 2002.  

Fears received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. 

Birdville ISD’s Educational Planning Guide Is Now Available Online

Planning for High School and Graduation

Planning a four-year high school program is a serious undertaking. 

Although many of courses will be determined by the graduation requirements, BISD students still have many other choices to make during their years of school. The courses selected should be guided largely by the student’s plans for the future.  

  • Will they continue their education in college or in a technical school/college? 
  • Do they want to join the military? 
  • Do they want to learn a career skill in order to enter the work force full-time immediately after school? 
  • Are they thinking of entering a profession that requires many years of specialized education? 

The answers to these questions are extremely important when making decisions about a student’s course selections for high school. 

Birdville ISD created the Educational Planning Guide to assist families/students in the selection of high school courses. The Educational Planning Guide is now available online!  

>View the Educational Planning Guide