|
|
Dual credit opportunities growing at BFHS
|
|
May 18, 2012 |
It took her several years to be able to offer it
to her students, but Bonners Ferry High School
Spanish teacher Linda Hall jumped through myriad
hoops to make hers the first academic class in
Boundary County to offer students dual credit,
saving them big dollars when they graduate and
move on to college.
Under the program, offered through North Idaho
College, students in Mrs. Hall's class can get
credits not only needed to graduate high school,
but up to 14 college credits as well, at a
considerable savings.
Before she earned the right to offer academic
dual credits, students in vocational classes
were the only ones who could benefit. Now, after
two years participation in the NIC program in
Spanish, two more teachers have earned the
credentials to offer academic dual credits next
year, with Ryan Gillespie offering college
credits in calculus and Judy Wages offering them
in biology.
"It's normally $130 a college credit," Mrs. Hall
said. "Under the dual credit program, the county
pays half, so each credit only costs $65. If the
student qualifies for free or reduced lunch,
they can apply for a scholarship, which can pay
all but $90."
Those credits are good not only at NIC, but at
the University of Idaho, and they are
transferrable to other colleges both in and out
of state.
Now in her second year of being able to offer
dual credits for Spanish, Linda worked for six
years to earn the ability to provide her
students the opportunuity, passing tests,
getting the proper credentials, prearing lesson
plans and giving presentations to NIC staff.
Linda had a few obstacles to overcome. Growing
up in the barrios of California, she'd long
since mastered the Spanish language, speaking
and writing it fluently. But to offer her course
at the college level, she had to go back to
school herself. She has a master's degree, but
it's not in education or Spanish, but
entomology, the study of bugs.
She met and married Dr. Roland Hall in college,
and came with him to Bonners Ferry where he is a
veterinarian. With not many career opportunities
for entomologists here, she took up teaching,
and to qualify to teach dual credit Spanish, she
had to not only earn a minor in Spanish, but
prove her proficiency to the NIC Spanish
Department.
She concedes the extra effort has been
considerable, but well worth it.
"As a parent, I'd want my children to have this
opportunity," she said. "I'd want them to have
that advantage to finish two years of college
Spanish while they're still in high school."
Whether or not her students take advantage of
dual credits, those who attend her classes find
the courses intense, but rewarding.
"I'm an old school, tough teacher," Linda said
with a big smile while students listening in
nodded emphatically in the affirmative. "After
the first day in class, we speak nothing but
Spanish. Those who have gone through all three
years with me, even if they're struggling to
keep a 'C,' leave here fluent in the language."
Many of her three-year students, she said, have
gone on to college and tested out their first
three semesters of college Spanish without ever
stepping into a classroom, accomplishing the
next best thing to dual credits even before
academic dual credits had been offered here.
"This is an exceptional opportunity," Mrs. Hall
said. "It's ridiculous if students arten't
taking advantage."
BFHS Students interested in taking advantage
should talk to their counselor and learn how to
register for NIC classes on-line. Once a student
enrolls, they'll receive additional information
on the program in the mail.
In an effort to help ensure that all students
who want to take advantage can, Mrs. Hall is
accepting donations from the community to help
fund local scholarships for students who
otherwise couldn't afford the opportunity.
"If a student has the desire," she said, "we'll
find a way."
Those interested in learning more can call Linda
at (208) 267-3149, extension 125, or at (208)
255-8708. |
|
|
|
|
