SouthwesternA Note from Southwestern Region VP Richard Middleton - 03-12
Found in Southwestern News
May 2012
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VP Richard Middleton |
Dear Colleagues
The Southwestern Regional Forum was a great success, with 500 educators and students in attendance. We started the conference on a high note, hearing from Rivercrest High School’s Gentlemen of Knowledge at a panel moderated by Sen. Joyce Elliott. In the evening, we honored Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe for his commitment to education while enjoying Fayetteville High School’s award-winning A Cappella Choir, directed by Dawnelle Fincher. Scott Page delivered a mind-blowing presentation on the ways that diversity within a group boosts performance and decision-making.
Aside from regional forum, the SWRO participated in meetings in San Antonio with the senior advisor to Arne Duncan on programming and goals to increase Latino access and success in college. San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro convened two sessions, one involving 12 San Antonio–area superintendents and another that brought together the presidents of the six community colleges and three universities. This supports our organization’s focus on improving education outcomes for Latino students.
During the past month, as part of the Texas College Preparation Program, K–12 staff have visited all 20 Regional Education Service Centers to present information about the effective use of PSAT/NMSQT® tools and reports.
In addition to our normal work with schools and districts, we have enjoyed connecting with folks at a number of regional and national conferences, including the Texas Association of School Administrators, American Association of School Administrators, Texas Counseling Association, Texas Middle School Association, Arkansas Gifted and Talented Education Conference, Arkansas Counseling Conference, and the Oklahoma GEAR UP Partner Fair. The College Board and AVID hosted a “meetup” on college readiness at SXSW edu.
A last reminder: The i3 (Investing in Innovation) program now offers three types of competitive grants to fund programs that improve academic achievement for high-need students. For more information and resources for these multimillion-dollar grants, go to www.collegeboard.org/grants or contact Jim Lindsay in the Southwestern Region at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
We look forward to continuing our work with you.
A Note from Southwestern Region VP Ann Wright
Found in Southwestern News
May 2010
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VP Ann Wright |
The Southwestern Region enjoyed an eventful semester, particularly due to the opportunities provided by the Texas Education Agency’s College Preparation Program. College Board educational managers traveled throughout Texas to communicate the benefits of the College Readiness Pathway (ReadiStep™, PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT®) and the opportunity to assess eighth- and 10th-grade students at no cost to schools, completing 38 presentations at 19 Educational Service Centers. College Board staff members also had the pleasure of representing the SAT at National Hispanic College Fairs in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, as well as at NACAC and TACAC College Fairs in Austin and Houston.
A Note from Southwestern Region VP Richard Middleton - 04-13
Found in Southwestern News
Apr. 2013
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VP Richard Middleton |
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you’re enjoying the early days of spring and reaping the benefits of your efforts so far in the academic year. I know students are eagerly awaiting word from their college choices, and many teachers and students are preparing for state assessments.
It’s a great time to consider how educators can work together to help students prepare for college and careers of their choosing.
We did just that at the Southwestern Regional Forum this winter in Dallas, with collaboration being the overarching theme. In dozens of sessions, professionals shared their experiences in and ideas pertaining to K–12 and higher education.
This was my second regional forum, and I was thrilled to see more than 700 colleagues from across the Southwest in attendance.
A Note from Southwestern Region VP Richard Middleton - 02-12
Found in Southwestern News
May 2012
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VP Richard Middleton |
Hello Colleagues:
This past month Southwestern Regional Office staff had the pleasure of sharing The 8th AP Report to the Nation results with state education officials. The presentations highlighted favorable developments but also acknowledged opportunities for growth. In Oklahoma and Texas, more graduates are succeeding on AP Exams today compared to 10 years ago. In New Mexico, more graduates are succeeding on AP Exams today than ever before. And Arkansas saw a 9.1 point increase since 2001 in the percentage of U.S. public high school graduates earning AP scores of 3 or higher.. In all four states, English and social science courses attracted more exam takers than did science and math courses. Participation by economically disadvantaged students is trending upward in the Southwest. Additionally, AP readiness — gauged by AP Potential™ and based on PSAT/NMSQT® performance — is evident in students throughout the Southwest. However, too many students are not availing themselves of the opportunity or are unable to take the course and exam. We hope you will further examine the data set forth in The 8th AP Report to the Nation.
The Southwestern Regional Office is pleased to introduce the Enrollment Leadership Academy, a professional development program focused on leadership skills, enrollment management issues and creating the next generation of enrollment leaders. The first cohort consists of 13 participants, and the inaugural meeting will take place at the Southwestern Regional Forum. In the ever-changing field of higher education, it is vital to have knowledgeable, capable leaders on our campuses We look forward to working with these 13 leaders!
Also, please note that as part of the Texas College Preparation Program, our K–12 educational managers will visit each of the Texas Education Service Centers (ESCs) this spring to share the valuable tools and reports that accompany the PSAT/NMSQT. Please contact our office or your local ESC for dates and details.
A Note from Forum 2010 from Regional Vice President Anne Wright
Found in Southwestern News
Oct. 2010
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RVP Ann Wright |
Along with five Southwest regional staff members and approximately 169 Southwestern College Board members, I attended the 2010 College Board National Forum in Washington, D.C., on October 27–29. Since this was my thirtieth national Forum, and my last as regional vice president due to my upcoming retirement, I was especially aware of the personal and professional opportunities at this wonderful annual gathering of educators. There were too many outstanding events to list, so I will mention only a few.
A Note From Southwestern Region VP Ann Wright - 02-11
Found in Southwestern News
Dec. 2010
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VP Ann Wright |
February marks the Southwestern Regional Forum, an event when we embrace the opportunity for secondary and higher education professionals to come together for roundtable discussions, networking events and workshops to help create change within our education system. We hope you will join us again in 2012! While much of our attention has gone to the planning and preparation for this annual event, the Southwestern Regional Office staff has also been visiting with universities, schools and districts regarding the great opportunities available through the Texas College Preparation Program, which will be providing vouchers redeemable for a free SAT® administration to approximately 60 percent of the class of 2012 this spring. Details are available from Texas Education Agency or your regional representative.
February also marks the 7th Annual AP® Report to the Nation. And though there is much work left to be done to increase equity and improve student achievement, the Southwestern Region has many accomplishments of which we can be proud. The SWRO commends the hard work educators in our region have undertaken to increase student success and narrow achievement gaps in AP course work. We appreciate not only the teachers on the front lines, but also the administrators who serve as instructional leaders and the policymakers who provide support for innovative programs that increase equity as well as excellence in education.
Here are some of the highlights:
During the last five years, educators in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas have helped increase the numbers of students participating and succeeding in AP.
- In Arkansas, the number of students from the class of 2010 scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam exceeded the number of students who even attempted an exam in 2001. It is also important to note that Arkansas has eliminated the equity and excellence gaps for both Latino students and American Indian/Alaska Native students. Equity and excellence in AP is achieved when student demographics are proportionally represented in AP classrooms as well as within the group of students succeeding on AP Exams.
- In New Mexico, AP participation and performance also increased. A total of 209 more students in the class of 2010 attempted at least one AP Exam than did students in the class of 2009, and 159 more students had a successful AP experience, earning a 3 or higher on at least one exam. In the past decade, the percent of the graduating class earning a 3 or higher has gone from 6.5 percent to 10.2 percent..
- In Oklahoma, 10.3 percent of the graduating class completed high school with at least one successful AP experience, compared to 6.2 percent doing so in 2001. We are also pleased that low-income students’ participation in AP increased by 12.5 percent compared to 2009.
- In Texas, more students are succeeding in AP today than even took AP nearly 10 years ago: A total of 82,249 students took an AP Exam during high school, compared to 39,456 students in 2001. In addition, 42,254 students in the class of 2010 earned a score of 3 or higher, an increase of 19,678 over 2001. In 2001, only 10.5 percent of the graduating class experienced success on an AP Exam. In 2010, 15.5 percent of the graduating class earned a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. Through state subsidies for AP Exams as well as AP and Pre-AP® professional development, Texas has supported significant expansion in AP, providing more students with access to rigorous, relevant courses.
- Special congratulations are due to Science Academy of South Texas in Mercedes and United High School in Laredo for their exemplary AP programs, particularly the excellence achieved by their Hispanic students. We also applaud the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions in Houston and Valley View High School in Pharr for making the list of Exemplary AP Programs again this year.
Southwestern Regional Office Welcomes Richard Middleton
Found in Southwestern News
Aug. 2011
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Richard Middleton has joined the College Board as
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Richard Middleton has joined the College Board as regional vice president for the Southwestern Regional Office. As regional vice president, Middleton will oversee the educational programs and services for Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In his most recent role before coming to the College Board, Middleton served for more than 20 years as the superintendent of North East Independent School District in San Antonio. Under Middleton’s leadership, the school district was recognized for academic excellence and innovative instructional programming at the local, state and national levels.
“In this leadership role, Richard will bring an extraordinary breadth of education experience as a former teacher, principal, superintendent and adjunct professor,” said Andrea Mainelli, senior vice president for region and account services at the College Board.
A Note from Southwestern Region VP Ann Wright
Found in Southwestern News
Sept. 2010
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VP Ann Wright |
The Southwestern Regional Office spent the summer working intensely with conferences, school and college visits, and strategic planning.
In Texas, we’ve been busy with two significant state partnerships: the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) College Preparation Program and College Readiness Initiative for Middle School Students. The College Preparation Program provides funding for Texas public school students and districts to participate in college readiness assessments, including ReadiStep™, the PSAT/NMSQT® and the SAT®. For the 2010-11 school year, this program will offer district-administered testing at grades eight and 10 at no cost to schools. Under the leadership of project manager Kay Wilson, the Southwestern Region has reached out to charter schools and public school districts throughout Texas to spread the word about this exciting opportunity to gain insight and feedback at critical points in students’ academic careers. The College Board was also approved as a provider for College Readiness Initiative for Middle School Students. Through this initiative, the TEA and the College Board will provide seventh- and eighth-grade teachers with instructional interventions, resources and training to close achievement gaps and increase college readiness among all students; prepare students to be successful on the Algebra I and English I EOC exams and eventually meet the college readiness performance standards on the English III and Algebra II EOC exams; and foster a college-going culture and prepare students for rigorous high school and postsecondary studies. Through these two important state programs, the College Board looks forward to working with schools to connect more students to college success!
A Note from Southwestern Region VP Richard Middleton - 02-13
Found in Southwestern News
Apr. 2013
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VP Richard Middleton |
Dear Colleagues,
Greetings from the Southwestern Regional Office!
SWRO staff members have been meeting with state-level officials in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas to review The 9th Annual AP® Report to the Nation. We have a lot to celebrate here in the Southwest. I will provide some highlights from our conversations but encourage you to carefully review the full report online
In all four states, more graduates than ever are finishing high school with a successful AP experience. In Arkansas, both participation in AP courses and performance on AP Exams have more than tripled over the past 10 years. With continued growth in participation and success, Oklahoma and New Mexico are making progress toward closing the equity gap in terms of AP participation and performance for Hispanic and black students. And we are very proud that Texas has closed the gap in AP participation for its Hispanic students and is making progress toward closing the equity gap for AP performance for Hispanic students. AP English continues to be the most popular subject in our region.
As you know, AP provides the rigorous preparation students need for success in college. AP students are more likely to earn a college degree and graduate sooner than their non-AP peers. We appreciate the hard work of our region’s K–12 educators, the support of state policymakers, and the dedication of higher education officials who all continue to strengthen and expand the AP Program.
The expansion of AP throughout our region also has a profoundly positive economic impact on students and their families. For example, Texas students earned scores of scores of 3 or higher on a total of 179,021 AP Exams. Based on students’ opportunity to earn at least 3 college credits for each qualifying AP Exam score, this represents an estimated 537,063 college credits. At an average rate of $220 per credit hour, the total potential cost savings for the state’s students and families exceeds $118 million.
In addition, the SWRO team is gearing up for Southwestern Regional Forum, Collaborate 2013: A Blueprint for Student Success,
Richard Middleton
Education Partnerships Produce a Successful P-–16 Model
Found in Southwestern News
Oct. 2010
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Betty Alford, Stephen F.
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Forum attendees explored partnership strategies to achieve college readiness in low-income schools at a session highlighting P–16 models. The model was a multilevel collaboration with GEAR UP, 10 school districts, a community college and a university. The initiative started by trying to build a college readiness program in the Austin, Texas, region and has grown into a curriculum focused P–16 partnership.
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