Bowie High School

Home of the Bears

801 South San Marcial
El Paso, TX 79905
496-8200

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Academy for International Business & Public Affairs

Overview

Business leaders and educators believe that all students must learn to function in a new workplace where international endeavors will be commonplace. Educators believe that many, if not most, graduates will live and work in foreign countries, travel frequently back and forth between this country and others, or interact with foreign colleagues on American soil. As more and more Americans earn their living through small business ownership and entrepreneurial ventures, many of them will extend their services into the international arena. The expansion of U.S. firms that conduct business internationally, contributes significantly to the diverse, multicultural workforce, and continued future development of the global economy.

The possibilities are numerous, challenging, and exciting, and we must prepare our students to take advantage of these opportunities.

The Plan

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Academy of International Business & Public Affairs is to develop future leaders in international business and public affairs by building a strong academic foundation through a focused and enriched curriculum that provides opportunities and guidance needed for students to reach their full potential in college or in the world of commerce and public service.

The Vision of the Academy of International Business & Public Affairs is:

• A school in which learning goes beyond the traditional classroom, allowing for mentoring and partnership relationships.
• An environment that nurtures and challenges the unique talents and needs of the learner.
• An educational setting designed to meet the changing needs of the border community.
• A community of learners where all stakeholders are given the opportunity to work collaboratively in a dynamic, changing, and culturally diverse system.
• A setting that encourages communication in multiple languages and exploration of international cultures, issues and languages.
• A program that stresses the use of the technology and the variety of different learning tools.

The Need

The purpose of the Academy of International Business & Public affairs is to prepare students in the El Paso border area to enter the international business environment or to continue the pursuit of business, law, economics, and computer information systems careers through higher education. In all probability, El Paso students entering these careers (and others) will work directly with international firms that import or export goods and services or will work directly with suppliers or competitors. Regardless of the interaction, El Paso students should possess a wide range of knowledge, especially of the countries most commonly involved in trade with the United States. El Paso is a border community and educators have an obligation to their students to provide this range of knowledge.

The Curriculum

t is proposed that the Academy follow the "school within the school concept", and that the students take most of their Grade 9-12 courses as a magnet group. The Academy is located within Bowie High School. This site is ideal, first of all because of its proximity to Mexico, but also because the location of the high school, on the Chamizal, symbolizes the international negotiations that took place between the two countries many years ago.

In order to follow the true meaning of the Academy concept, it is proposed that a total interdisciplinary approach be implemented. It is through a balanced and integrated curriculum, of academic and vocational skills, that students attain the attitudes, skills, and knowledge needed to compete successfully in today's global economy. Emphasis in the program will be given to foster interaction among students of different social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds in classroom activities and extracurricular activities.

Because the number of U.S. firms that conduct business internationally is expanding, the students will be introduced to the concept of global economy with a focus on economic, cultural, and political factors that affect international business. The concept of the program will include, but not be limited to, the study of organizational structures, business management, entrepreneurship, human relations, protocols, economics, business law, trade relations, geography, accounting, foreign language, and technology. The content will be interwoven throughout all Academy courses.

Several courses will be developed as innovative courses and submitted to the Texas Education Agency for approval. The courses will extend beyond the current scope and design and will include concepts of management, advertising, sales, and technology. Also, topics such as contract law and business ownership, as they relate to investors, will be integrated into the curriculum. Finally, knowledge of security, ethical, social, and privacy issues will be taught, as these are essential topics for the electronic entrepreneurs.

This linked page shows a course listing of the classes to be taught at the Academy, which includes a Career Preparation course in which students can participate in internships and paid work experience with local businesses.

Student Selection

Interested Grade 8 students in the district may apply for admission into the Academy. Minimum qualifications for acceptance:

• A grade point average (GPA) of 85 during the previous two years in the core courses (English, Math, Science and Social Studies)
• Students must have met the minimum expectations in the reading, writing and math portions of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS).
• Achieve a 50% ranking in each of the core areas if the applicant is not required to take TAAS.
• A student must be in compliance with the state attendance policy.

Teacher Selection

Selection of teachers for this program is the principal's responsibility. A suggested list of criteria may include:

• Teacher certification
• Teacher interest, and enthusiasm, in being part of the Academy
• Recommendation from principal or other supervisor

Transportation

District-wide and County-wide transportation is provided by the EPISD. The busses will pick up at every major high school in the El Paso and other county districts. Activity busses for students in sports or other extra-curricular activities will also be provided.

Community Support Base

The Academy will require a support base from former students, business leaders, informed educators, the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, UTEP, EPCC, and all others who recognize that international business education can improve the quality of life for the individual and the well-being of the community. An advisory committee, composed of community leaders who deal with international commerce, will be established to provide the vital link to the establishment and maintenance of a business and education partnership.

The Budget

To prepare the Academy students adequately, a budget must be maintained to include the following:

• Teacher staff development (in town and out of town)
• Curriculum writing
• Supplementary material (books, software, etc..)
• Teacher salaries for the summer enrichment program.

Evaluation

The success of the Academy can be evaluated in a variety of ways. The following should be considered:

• The number of students successfully completing the four-year program
• The number of entities making up the support base
• The quality and quantity of incentives available to students (to encourage post-secondary education)
• The number of articulation agreements with post-secondary institutions.

Conclusion

The curriculum for The Academy of International Business & Public Affairs is rigorous and will require commitment from students, teachers, administrators, and community members to ensure a quality program. Certain courses will be selected as Advanced Placement courses, but the selection will require input from teachers and school administrators.

The review of the literature across the United States shows that most school districts have one International Business course. Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas has a Business Careers High School. The students who attend this school must select one of three tracks: (1) general business, (2) finance, or (3) travel and tourism.

No other school district has a program of the caliber that is implemented at Bowie High School in the El Paso Independent School District. The implementation target date was met in the fall semester of 2003.

Purpose can never be about achievement;it is much bigger.