In an article originally published in IB World, International Baccalaureate’s bi-annual magazine, and re-posted below with permission from IB, a former principal of a school in New York recounts how he helped establish the IB Diploma Program in the United States.
NOTE: Notre Dame Preparatory School was the first Catholic school in the state of Michigan to be authorized (in 2007) for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Today, it remains the only school in Michigan, public or private, to offer IB’s DP, MYP and PYP programs.
Earlier this month, Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy announced that 97% of those enrolled in the school’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP) had successfully received an IB Diploma, well ahead of the 79% pass rate for all IB schools in the United States.
A series of unlikely events led to the launch of the I8 Diploma Program in U.S. high schools. Pioneer and former principal Mel Serisky looks back.
The year 1978 is remembered for many reasons: film lovers flocked to watch Grease premier in cinemas, the Jacksons released Blame It On The Boogie and in Queens, New York, Francis Lewis High School became the first public high school to graduate International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (DP) students.
Today, there are 1,623 IB programs offered in US public schools and many more in private high schools, including Notre Dame Preparatory School, which was authorized to become an IB-Diploma Program school in 2007. And all of this is partly thanks to Mel Serisky, former principal of Francis Lewis High School in New York.
In 1975, Serisky set out to find a program that would challenge his students academically.
Mel Serisky was the first public school principal in the United States to take on IB’s Diploma Program.
Serisky attended an education conference and came across a brochure entitled The Time Has Come, which was about the DP. “I read it and was very impressed with the program it described,” Serisky said. “It stated that the DP was being implemented at The United Nations International School (UNIS) in New York City, which was a private school not far away.”
The DP was in its infancy, but Serisky was willing to take a leap of faith. Without hesitation, he visited UNIS that very day to find out more. By coincidence, Alec Peterson — the first IB director general — was also there. They spoke about the DP and Peterson promised to send Serisky detailed information and an application form when he returned to Switzerland.
Peterson had to leave right away to catch his plane. But keen to continue the conversation, Serisky drove him to the airport. The flight was delayed for 24 hours so Serisky offered Peterson a bed for the night in Long Island, which he accepted. That night, Serisky learned even more about the program and, the following day, he took Peterson back to the airport.
Retraining staff
Serisky immediately wrote a letter to Peterson to apply for the program.
“I didn't ask my secretary to type it because if I was turned down, I did not want anyone to know,” he said. However, Francis Lewis High School was accepted.
Next, Serisky had to secure funding for the school. “I met with the superintendent for the New York City School System to explain the program. He was impressed and was able to secure the funds from his budget." Parents of selected students were overjoyed and eager to have their children participate in the program, recalled Serisky. “The students loved it — they were challenged, and had the best teachers and peers."
As all IB World Schools know, the authorization process is rigorous and demanding. But Serisky didn't employ new teachers. Instead he provided additional training.
“I knew the strengths of my current staff members,” he said. “I held a meeting with my department chairman, explained the DP and asked them to select their best teachers. The teachers happily accepted the invitation and agreed to additional training and the time needed to learn and absorb the program.”
Inspiring change
Francis Lewis High School started a domino effect in the U.S. and later around the world. “When I implemented the DP, dozens of principals from U.S. schools visited me to learn more about the program,” Serisky said.
It was a fantastic opportunity as he was invited to sit on the IB North America Board of Directors and travel the world to speak to international audiences about the IB.
Serisky's leap of faith proved vital to the spread of the program in the U.S. and is a source of great pride: “I feel very satisfied and proud of my original push for the IB,” he said.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.