International School of the Americas
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| International School of the Americas | |
| Address | |
|---|---|
| 1400 Jackson-Keller Road San Antonio, Texas 78213 |
|
| Information | |
| School district | North East ISD |
| Principal | Kathy Bieser |
| Assistant principals | Jeannie McDaniel and Paul Smith |
| Enrollment |
469 (2007-2008) |
| School type | Public magnet high school |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Language | English |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Mascot | Globies |
| Color(s) | Kelly Green and Royal Blue |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Homepage | http://www.neisd.net/isa/index.html |
The International School of the Americas (ISA) is a magnet school in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas in Bexar County. It is located on the Robert E. Lee High School campus at 1400 Jackson-Keller Road. It places a focus upon learning from a global perspective as opposed to an Americo-centric worldview. The school is notable for its small student body and for its Model United Nations conference, named Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA), which is the largest such student-run conference west of the Mississippi River.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Origins
ISA's basic premises stem from a concept paper written by Tom Sergiovanni,[2] a professor of public education at Trinity University. Its founding was prompted by the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which, economically connecting the United States with Mexico and Canada, raised the issue of international relations. Originally envisioned as a professional-development school for Trinity University,[3] ISA began as a magnet program before becoming a full-fledged school.[4] ISA maintains strong ties with Trinity: university students majoring in education may complete internships at ISA as teachers, many ISA teachers are former Trinity students, and many major school events, most notably the annual ceremony for graduating seniors, are held at Trinity.
[edit] Activities
With a student body size of around 450, ISA does not have enough students to form sports teams or extracurricular groups of any substance (with the exception of Model United Nations). Instead, students may participate in activities on the home campus, although this created a conflict in 2006 when Lee excluded ISA students from its official student count in order to affect its standing within the University Interscholastic League.[5] Students may also take classes at the North East School of the Arts (NESA), another magnet program at Lee High School (although starting in the 2008-2009 school year, incoming students will not be allowed to join both ISA and NESA).
[edit] School trips
As part of its focus on international education and preparation for global citizenship, ISA offers it students the opportunity (which most students take) to partake in trips every year. In their freshman year, students travel to Heifer International's education center near Little Rock, Arkansas and participate in a simulation of life in developing nations. In their sophomore year, students go to Zacatecas, Mexico in order to better understand Mexican culture as well as that of San Antonio. In their junior year, they travel to the state of Alabama and journey along historically significant points in the American Civil Rights Movement in an investiagtion of the concept of justice. In their senior year, they go to Washington, D.C. in order to fully understand their country and its government.
[edit] Recognition
ISA is a member of many educational and international organizations including the Coalition of Essential Schools[6] and the Asia Society. It is, in addition, a member of the Texas High School Project's T-STEM network, and has been awarded "Exemplar" status by it. ISA has also been noticed and lauded by such organizations as the Goldman-Sachs Foundation.[7]
[edit] Notable Alumni
Lowell Galindo, signature anchor of ESPNU since 2007.[8]
[edit] External links
- North East Independent School District Homepage
- Border Crossing: The International School of the Americas Makes a Connection. Edutopia
- The Goldman Sachs Foundation
- United Nations San Antonio Article
