Karie Mize has filled a variety of roles in Avon Schools since she did her student teaching here in the early 90s, and she is now the Principal at the White Oak Early Learning Center. She and her husband are long-time Avon residents and both of their children graduated from Avon Schools — her son even teaches here. Matt Shockley is in his 13th year as Principal at Avon High School. After starting in the role, he and his family sank their roots deep into the community. He and his wife live here and both their children graduated from AHS. Karie and Matt been leaders in our school district for long enough to have experienced many peaks and valleys, yet they've remained committed to our students, their colleagues, and our community. Listen in as Dr. Wyndham talks with Karie and Matt about their experiences in Avon Schools and hear from them as they give firsthand accounts of the impact of Avon's failed 2011 Operating Referendum and the voter-approved 2018 Operating Referendum. You'll learn how much the community's support has meant to Avon's 11,000 students and 1,600 employees.
"After the 2011 Referendum failed, with less staff, with less teachers, with less assistants, there was a lot less individual work [with students]. We spread ourselves really thin. But then since [the 2018 Referendum passed] we're back to small classes. My small groups are small. The IEPs are manageable. I've noticed a huge difference." Sue Misner"We have about 1,700 multilingual (ML) students in the district now with over 100 languages spoken. [Since 2018] we have been able to have our ML teachers and our assistants push into classrooms to support student learning. We help them build vocabulary. We help them build background knowledge. ... We are also able to work with small groups inside and outside the classroom for students who need targeted support to grow their proficiency in the English language. ... The smaller class sizes really make a big difference." Sarah Valentin"We moved here just a few years ago and I love the community. I tell all our families about all the youth sports programs we have. I tell them about everything that's going on at the high school. I love talking about how our schools are succeeding — about our Bands, our sports programs, and all the things that are offered. ... I'm really passionate about it. ... I see how those smaller numbers and the pull out groups and the supports help." Nicole Derhammer
Welcome to episode 100 of the Orioles In-The-Know podcast. After 99 episodes of Dr. Wyndham playing host — listening to others answer his questions — Avon High School senior Robert Porter flips the script on him, taking control of the podcast for this special episode. A lot has happened in Avon Schools in the five years that have passed since episode 1, which covered the ins and outs of returning to school in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Find out why Dr. Wyndham started the podcast, which episode he looks most forward to each year, and what it's like to be Superintendent of a growing, dynamic school corporation like Avon. Stick around to hear Dr. Wyndham flip the script back so he and listeners can learn more about Robert. Thanks for tuning in for our first 100 episodes. Subscribe so you don't miss the next 100.
"[Kindergarten students require] a lot of consistency, and love, and care, and nurturing. ... My goal is that they'll come out happy, enjoying school, loving every moment they can, and making memories because they have a teacher — or teachers — that can do that with smaller class sizes." Janet Craig, Maple Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher"I feel like one of the biggest words that summarizes the people in Avon is 'committed'. The educators, the children, the community — everyone is committed to Avon Schools." Lauren Ruth, Evergreen Elementary School 1st Grade Teacher"At the high school level, class size is probably one of the greatest changes we've seen. Prior to the referendum, I'd say we were averaging 30-35 students per class. Once the Referendum passed in 2018 we immediately hired a Math teacher, which was able to reduce class size, specifically in some of the areas on which we wanted to focus like Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 — those skills that students really need to be successful in the high school." Andrea Austin, AHS Math Department Chair and Math Teacher
Seniors' Advice to the Class of '29"Every opportunity that you're presented with, take it. Take it and have fun with it. Really get to know people who can help you in the long run. And when you make it up there, check your ego at the door. ... Just make sure that every opportunity that someone hands you, take it, have fun with it, and make it your dream." Rion Bolden"A lot of 8th graders come into high school with the mindset that they're all that and that they're cooler than everybody. ... I think that making sure that you're not taking away from opportunities you could have because you're not having an open mind and you're thinking oh, that's not cool or oh, I don't want to do that. I think that it's really important that you're going to high school to learn, to get friends, and to make good experiences and memories." Mercy Olaniyan"Show up and take the chance. Even if you've never done it before, just show up. If it's a club or an extracurricular, just give it a shot. You don't know who you're going to meet in there. You could meet your best friend in there. You just don't know. You have to give yourself the opportunity to excel." Luke Sigler"Find what you're passionate about and pursue it wholeheartedly. I could never sing, so choir is definitely not my passion. But I know a lot of people who are in choir and they love it so much. For me academics has been a passion because I love learning. I've thrown myself into academics and it's brought me a lot of good experiences. And it's appreciated after you graduate, too." Adelyn Wyndham
May 5-9 is Teacher Appreciation Week here in Avon and across the nation. It's a week when we make sure to acknowledge the women and men who have made it their mission not just to educate the minds of the next generation, but to cultivate their lives so they can succeed long past their time in school. For this very special episode, Dr. Wyndham has a fun and fast-paced conversation with five veteran teachers: Preschool Teacher Kastonia Gray, Kindergarten Teacher Renee Moore, 5th Grade Teacher Dee Andrus, 7th Grade Teacher Luke Tudor, and High School Teacher Chris Hill. You'll learn what brought these incredible teachers to Avon and what has kept them here. You'll hear about the teachers who helped them decide to pursue careers in education and what makes them #AvonProud. Each of them talk about the sense of family and community they have experienced here in Avon Schools and how they're working to help young teachers experience it too. Finally, you'll be inspired by their obvious passion to make a lifelong impact on our 11,000 students. Be sure to take time to share your appreciation with an educator this week.
Avon High School's Show Choir program swept every competition it entered this season — including the state finals — making them the first AHS Show Choir to win a state championship in the program's history. In honor of this incredible achievement, Dr. Wyndham sits down for a conversation with two student leaders, seniors Olivia Gibson Logan Fraley, and Show Choir Directors/Teachers Leah Trigg and Drew Stainbrook. They give Dr. Wyndham a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put together a successful show choir performance (hint: they're already hard at work on next season), how the students embraced this year's Olympics-themed show, how students held one another accountable to achieve high standards, and much more. Plus, you'll learn about Olivia and Logan's plans for the future and what schools they have attended since starting in Avon Schools as kindergarten students. Stick around to hear what makes each guest #AvonProud.
Heiabeal Ainom, Lilly ScholarCalleigh Neal, Delegate to the US Senate Youth Program and Indiana's Distinguished Young WomanLisa Kern, Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching
In this very special episode of the Orioles In-The-Know podcast, Dr. Wyndham sits down for a warm conversation with two members of our district's Building Corporation and long-time Avon Orioles, Linda Dobbs and Lloyd Acton. Beyond the discussion about what the Building Corporation is and what they do, you'll love hearing Linda and Lloyd walk down memory lane, recounting the Avon community and Avon Schools of yesteryear. You'll also enjoy their perspectives on what makes them #AvonProud and their hopes for the future. Here are a couple notable quotes that will give you an idea of what Linda and Lloyd have to say: "As the community has grown and the schools have been added onto, I think the one thing that has remained a constant is the pride in our schools and the desire to make sure that our kids are getting a quality education," Linda Dobbs. "My life has been to be a loyal Oriole and to do what I can for kids in this community. ... What else would you want to do [with your life]? What else would you want to be involved in other than kids and their futures?" Lloyd Acton. We hope you enjoy this episode — that you learn something new about our history and that it makes you #AvonProud.
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Learn about ACSC's '25 Redistricting Process and access FAQ, timelines, committee meeting recaps, and much more. Discover the backstory of the redistricting project — ACSC's history of growth — on our strategic expansion webpage.
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