MSAP Grant Schools

Click here to view the MSAP Y1 APR.

GCS has been selected to receive funding under the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) from the U.S. Department of Education. With the grant, the district will establish an aviation academy and expand the International Baccalaureate (IB), Montessori and Science and Technology programs.

“We are pleased that we were selected to receive an MSAP grant,” said Tony Lamair Burks II, director of magnet and choice schools. “The funding will enable us to advance themes and programs that promote and expand public school choice and meet the needs and interests of the Guilford County community. I am especially excited about the Aviation Academy and its ties to the business community.”

Andrews High is the proposed location for the Aviation Academy, a magnet program that will provide students with a unique opportunity to learn aviation-related science, mathematics and technology. The program will capitalize on engineering and advanced technology courses currently offered at Andrews and will engage students in learning by asking them to solve authentic, “real world” problems.

The grant will also go toward the IB Primary Years Programme at Northwood Elementary and the IB Middle Years Programme at Hairston Middle and Ferndale Middle. Both of these programs will complement existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering a continuum of the IB curriculum from kindergarten through grade 12 throughout the district. The three schools will enter the “Consideration” phase, which includes: obtaining appropriate IB publications, examining IB programme philosophy and curriculum, conducting a feasibility study on possible outcomes and arranging for staff to take IBO-approved training. IB schools will continue to serve students in their assigned district. However, the grant will allow Northwood, Ferndale and Hairston to accept new students from other schools, giving even more children an opportunity for the high-quality, challenging and international education IB can offer.

Montessori, a personalized approach to learning which recognizes that each child learns with a unique style and pace, is a popular magnet program already in place at two schools in the district. Thanks to this MSAP grant, GCS will be able to expand the Montessori program to Washington Elementary.

Finally, GCS will have the opportunity to add a Science and Technology program at Welborn Middle. Welborn students will benefit from the integration of science, technology and mathematics throughout the curriculum.

The Office of Magnet and Choice Schools has chartered cross-functional, interdepartmental teams of school-level staff, district-level staff, and community members to plan, develop, revise, and implement key elements of the MSAP grant proposal.  Each project design team has co-champions and a charter document to guide its work.

This web site includes important information about our four project design teams.  We invite you to take a moment to read about each project design team by clicking on the links below.  For more information about our MSAP Grant Project Design Teams and the MSAP Grant, contact:

Director of Magnet and Choice Schools
(336) 378-8832

Emily M. Scott
Director of Grants
scotte3@gcsnc.com
(336) 370-2342

Our Project Design Teams Resources:
Office of Magnet and Choice Schools Brochure
Chartering Project Teams: What To Do and How To Do It
Creating Successful Magnet School Programs
Prioritized Tasks and Next Steps by Goal Template
Purposes of Magnet and Choice Schools

Our MSAP Grant Implementation Updates:
February 7, 2008
December 14, 2007

Our Project Design Teams:

Aviation
This project design team will: (1) develop a process to recruit and identify eligible students; (2) develop a comprehensive curriculum supported by the instructional materials to serve the identified students; and (3) recommend and request facility, furniture, and equipment adjustments for the new population of students.  The Aviation Academy at Andrews High School will complement the existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering an academy concept with direct links to the higher education and business communities.

Click here for this team’s charter.

Team Co-Champions:
Jennifer Griffin, Academy Director, griffij3@gcsnc.com
Robert White, Program Specialist, Workforce Development, whiter@gcsnc.com

IB PYP and MYP
This project design team will: (1) develop a process to recruit and identify eligible students; (2) develop a comprehensive curriculum supported by the instructional materials to serve the identified students; and (3) recommend and request facility, furniture, and equipment adjustments for the new population of students.  The prospective International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) at Northwood Elementary School will complement the existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering a duplicate IBPYP for the district.  The IB Middle Years Programmes (MYP) at Ferndale and Hairston Middle Schools will complement existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering a continuum of the IB curriculum from grade K-12 in both the eastern and western sections of the county.

Click here for this team’s charter.

Team Co-Champions:
Randy Morgan, Elementary Mathematics Curriculum Specialist, morganr@gcsnc.com
Scott Winslow, Principal, Northwood, winslos@gcsnc.com

Montessori
This project design team will: (1) develop a process to recruit and identify eligible students; (2) develop a comprehensive curriculum supported by the instructional materials to serve the identified students; and (3) recommend and request facility, furniture, and equipment adjustments for the new population of students.  The Montessori program at Washington Elementary School will complement existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering a program for students in the central zone.

Click here for this team’s charter.

Team Co-Champions:
Rovahnda Tate Hayes, Curriculum Facilitator, Washington, tater2@gcsnc.com
Maya Tharpe, Fourth Grade Teacher, Washington, tharpem@gcsnc.com

Science and Technology
This project design team will: (1) develop a process to recruit and identify eligible students; (2) develop a comprehensive curriculum supported by the instructional materials to serve the identified students; and (3) recommend and request facility, furniture, and equipment adjustments for the new population of students.  The Science and Technology Academy at Welborn Middle School will complement the existing GCS magnet and choice options by offering a duplicate science and technology school for the district.

Click here for this team’s charter.

Team Co-Champions:
Lori Bolds, Principal, Welborn, boldsl@gcsnc.com
Tanya McPhail, Assistant Principal, Welborn, mcphait@gcsnc.com

"The contents of this web page were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government."