August 30, 2019 — Midland ISD is helping students Build Big Dreams by giving them the opportunity to meet with people who have achieved amazing personal feats and who are working to change the world.
BUILDING INSPIRATION
Young Women's Leadership Academy is helping its students build big dreams by giving them to chance to meet amazing women who influence the world and achieve great feats.
In September, more than 70 YWLA seventh-graders will hear the personal story of Stacy Allison at Sibley Nature Center. Allison is an adventurer who was the first American woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, a feat she achieved in 1988.
"We are dedicated to connecting our girls with strong female leaders so they can see that women make great impacts in the world," said YWLA Principal Jennifer Seybert. "Getting the chance to meet Stacy Allison and hearing her story will build our girls' confidence as they pursue college and career after high school and become great leaders themselves."
This event is made possible by the generosity of the FMH Foundation.
The media is invited to attend this event. It runs from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at Sibley Nature Center, 1307 E. Wadley Ave.
YWLA students will get the chance to meet former first lady Michelle Obama in September through an event hosted by Young Women's Preparatory Network. On Sept. 26 and 27, four students from each YWLA campus will attend the Leadership Summit and Evening with Michelle Obama in Dallas at the Winspear Opera House.
BUILDING CHARACTER
Former NBA assistant coach and motivational speaker David Verdu hosted an interactive assembly titled "Stand Up Stand Out" on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Goddard Junior High. The hourlong, high-energy presentation taught character building through an anti-bullying message. Verdu spent the rest of the day visiting classrooms to bring his message one-on-one with students and to encourage them to take the No1Alone pledge.
Goddard is part of the REACH Network with Bunche Elementary. The REACH Network provides a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade continuum such that students receive Tier I instruction at a higher level so that prerequisite gaps do not stack up year after year.
Goddard, Bunche and YWLA are among Midland ISD's newest transformation campuses. These schools are partnerships between the district and a nonprofit partner network. Other transformation campuses that opened this year are Ben Milam International Academy, Carver Center and the Pre-Kindergarten Academy at Midland College.