County's IB coordinator leaves for Wales

When Christine E. Amiss arrived in Anne Arundel five years ago, the county's International Baccalaureate Programme was just making the jump from idea to reality.

Five years later, the program has quadrupled in size and graduated a class that bested international averages on the prestigious IB diploma exams.

Now Ms. Amiss is leaving Anne Arundel for a job with the organization's worldwide office in Wales, according to school officials.

"It's a big loss for us," said Maureen McMahon, director of advanced studies and programs for county schools. "She set the bar for excellence very high and we're seeing the results, the success of the IB program."

Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said the school system hasn't found a new IB coordinator.

IB was started in Geneva, in 1968 and is taught in 128 countries. It teaches students a broad, international curriculum.

Ms. Amiss started the program in the county with 490 students. When school starts in the fall, more than 2,000 students will be in the three high school programs - at Annapolis, Old Mill and Meade high schools - and the three corresponding middle school programs, Ms. McMahon said.

Last spring, the county's first IB graduates took their diploma exams, which allow them to earn an IB diploma in addition to their high school diploma. Annapolis students beat worldwide averages on seven out of 15 of the exams, and Old Mill's students beat worldwide averages on eight of 14 - scores county officials said were impressive.

Booker T. McManus, co-chairman of the county's IB advisory board, said the program's success has filtered to other areas of the school system, raising achievement of all students.

"Everyone benefits from it," he said.

Most recently, the county's IB team has received an award for excellence from the Maryland Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and much that success can be attributed to Ms. Amiss, Ms. McMahon said.

"Her strong foundational leadership has put us on a pathway where we can soar," Ms. McMahon said. "We know she'll bring that same leadership to IB worldwide."

Ms. Amiss said she took the job in Wales in part to be near her family in London. She said she'll be the head of continuum development in the Curriculum and Assessment Office, helping IB align its three programs in elementary, middle and high schools.

Having a former IB coordinator in the international office will be a boon for the county, she said.

"I think it's a real testament to the work we've done in Anne Arundel County, that the IB organization thinks I'm ready for this position," she said.

Before coming to Anne Arundel, Ms. Amiss worked with an IB program in Hong Kong, and before that she worked in Baltimore County schools for 16 years.

"I'm very pleased with our work in Anne Arundel County," she said. "We have some great leaders in our school buildings and our programs are thriving."