AVID HISTORY

The Many Faces of AVID

The power of AVID resides in people and in their stories. The story begins with Mary Catherine Swanson, an English teacher who in 1980 created AVID in the face of staunch resistance from those who feared change and loss of power. There are the students who, in one way or another, are told they are not made of the right stuff, but through hard work, sheer determination, and the support of their AVID teachers, they overcome adversity by battling and beating the disease of low expectations. There are the teachers, many of whom had grown disillusioned, whose passion for teaching is rekindled daily through AVID, and who voluntarily help to assimilate a new generation of young Americans. There are the parents, for whom their child’s acceptance to college is among the happiest days of their lives—the start of a college-going tradition in their family. There are the superintendents and school administrators who are committed to making the college dream accessible to all their students, not just to those with inherent advantages. There are the directors, coordinators and staff developers without whom AVID could not expand while maintaining consistency and quality. And there are the businesses, foundations, legislators and other supporters who keep AVID afloat and enable it to make a difference in the lives of 85,000 students each year across 23 states and 15 countries.

For additional information on AVID: avidonline.org