"The IB enables students to develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive and make a lasting difference", Christine Scharf, PYP Coordinator

 This summer, Christine Scharf, JFK’s PYP Coordinator was recertified as an IB Authorization School Visit Team Member.  This marks successful completion of the 25 hours training for IBEN upskilling for the authorization 2020 programme standards and practices training including a milestone assessment.  

The IB enables students to direct their own learning pathway and develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive and make a lasting difference. It empowers teachers as the architects of learning excellence, working alongside engaged colleagues in a rewarding career supported by a strong global network. And it brings schools a strong reputation for successful outcomes that uplift the whole community.

In order to do this, IB maintains the quality of the IB Educator Network (IBEN) with selected education experts who demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.  IB offers rigorous training and assessment to ensure that IBEN members are able to support schools as they work toward becoming an IB school or maintaining authorization. The course was designed to refresh knowledge of the 2020 PSP and consider their role in the updated authorization process.  Collaboration with peers with extensive experience with IB from different countries is an integral part of the training. Participants were assessed by an IB facilitator with three capabilities: communication, critical thinking and transfer. 

Christine was trained by IB and joined IBEN in New Orleans in 2018.  Since then, she has led official IB workshops in New York, Mexico City, Maryland, Alabama, Texas, the Cayman Islands, Merida, and Chiapas supporting teachers and leaders to grow in their understanding of PYP and the IB. “Every time I work with schools in my role as IBEN, I learn and grow and bring new strategies and perspectives back to support the staff and students at JFK.  It’s part of what it means to be an IB school - learning and growing striving to make the world a better and more peaceful place.”