Program To Push AP Classes Kicks Off

Featured speaker Dr. Arun A. Seraphin said he was excited that students at the alma mater of Cal and Billy Ripken would get an opportunity to expand their academic horizons.

But, as the Principal Assistant Director for National Security and International Affairs, he was just as excited to learn about another Aberdeen High School alum.

“Since I’m a science geek, it turns out Mike Griffin also went to Aberdeen High School. Mike Griffin grew up to be NASA Administrator,” Seraphin said. “That’s about as cool as you can get. That said, I want to grow up to be like Mike Griffin.”

Seraphin, who brought greetings from the White House, said Monday’s at and high schools supports President Barack Obama’s goal to increase math and science learning throughout the country.

The program, which is funded locally by Boeing and the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), provides students in military families consistent, high-level math and science curriculum throughout the nation.

Aberdeen and Havre de Grace are the only high schools in the state to be granted the program. Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Tomback credited Mary Beth Stapleton with starting the grant process from Harford County’s perspective.

Dr. Leonard D. Wheeler, President of the , said students now will be “better equipped to solve our problems and build upon our successes.”

The program is set up in four stages—teacher support, student support, incentive awards and program management—with the goal of increasing the number of students in math, science and English AP (Advanced Placement) classes.

The program calls for 282 passing AP credits for students between the schools next year. Recently, the schools had a combined 151 passing AP credits.

Both schools have already made improvements to their curriculum to prepare, including the addition of AP Biology and Chemistry at Havre de Grace, and AP Physics at Aberdeen.

Two students from the schools were on hand Monday as part of the kick-off presentation.

, a junior at Havre e Grace, plans to join the ROTC program at whichever college she attends. A self-proclaimed “Army brat,” she calls her father, Arthur Watson, “a rock in my life.” Her father, who instilled an education-first mentality in his daughter, departs for Afghanistan Wednesday.

Morgan Sulzbach, a sophomore at Aberdeen, chose to attend the school because of the science and math academy magnet program. She said the new AP program would be a great addition for students who may not be in the right place financially to take the AP tests at the end of the year.

“We know that participation in AP coursework gives our students the academic edge over others as they prepare for post-secondary education and futures beyond the classroom,” Tomback said. “In order to provide the rigor and opportunity in STEM related fields, our Board of Education has identified increased AP participation and qualifying scores for all students as a focus through our strategic plan. We are excited and grateful that NMSI, Boeing and DoDEA will be providing the fiscal and academic resources to assist us in that endeavor for Aberdeen and Havre de Grace high schools, two of our high schools that are home to many students whose parents serve our country.”

TELL US: Does your child attend high school in Aberdeen or Havre de Grace? Do they currently take AP classes? Leave a comment.