IBO & JTM

A major reason I was interested in this trip, was due to our (John Trotwood Moore Middle School) new status (2007-2008 was our first official year) as an IBO Middle Years Programme school. We have been working towards certification for about five years now, and we are working to have more and more of an international emphasis in our school.

When the email arrived from Becky Verner, (Metro Nashville's Social Studies Program Assistant) explaining the opportunity, I decided this would be a great chance to enhance the program. I talked to my principal Jill Pittman about helping with some of the financial side of the trip, and she was 100% behind the idea of my going and doing whatever it would take to get me there. It has been amazing how much support she and the school have given me in this effort (um...even the sign below...haha).
It is also interesting that the other two participants that will be going to China from Nashville, are IBO teachers at Hunter's Lane High School, and I'm sure have similar goals for their school that I do with this trip.

I plan to not only bring back materials, knowledge, and ideas from China for the students, but also a chance to come back and share what I've learned with teachers in my school as well as in Metro Nashville Schools. This blog is going to be part of that. I hope to have this available to my kids and friends. It will also be a great chance to come back later and keep up with what I experienced in China.