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Gahr High School.
By Brian Hews
Richard Gahr High School in Cerritos was gifted $1,000 from representatives of the California Retired Teachers Association, Area X, Division 3for the campuses Advancement Via Individual Determination Program.
Principal Gina Zietlow was presented the check by three former ABC Unified School District Teachers including Mary Slattery, Toni Tawzer and Shirley McKinney.
In 1980, Mary Catherine Swanson, then-head of the English Department at San Diego’s Claremont High School began the A.V.I.D. program because she believed that “if one held students accountable to the highest standards as well as provide accountable to the highest standards as well as provide academic and social support that they would rise to the challenge.”
Gahr High School’s AVID Program is simple, according to proponents. The campus accepts the students who “have the desire and determination to apply and be successful in a college setting.”
The program is currently 7% of the total Gahr High School population with almost 150 students enrolled in AVID.
The California Retired Teachers Association, Area X, Division 3 includes the ABC, Bellflower, Compton, Cypress, Long Beach, Los Alamitos and Paramount Unified School Districts.
Becky Carroll, President of Division 3 said that the organization purpose includes giving scholarships, hosting six luncheons meetings a year, safeguarding retired teachers benefits and monitoring legislation affecting education.
For more information, please feel free to visit www.calrta.org or call 1 800 523-2782.
