Dec. 21, 2022
Advocacy and Friendship, A Music Lesson with Lou Jobst
Children and Louis Jobst When Mizzou Academy needed a music teacher for a special children’s event on self-advocacy and friendship, Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver knew just who to call. Lou Jobst, known to many as “Sweet Lou,” has been bringing music to our team for almost seven years, and he’s been bringing music to children and schools for over four decades. At Mizzou Academy, where Jobst teaches language arts, he often writes and records songs for students who need a little extra encouragement or celebration. “Lou helped us start poem-in-your-pocket day at Mizzou Academy,” says Fishman-Weaver. “And while that is…
Dec. 17, 2022
Better Together: Teaching and Learning Conference in São Paulo, SP
It might have been the way Matheus Nucci Mascarenhas held his grandmother Marilia’s hand as the two navigated to our conference stage. It might have been the way Marilia beamed at her grandson the whole time. Regardless, 120+ conference attendees laughed and cried as these two told their story during the opening session for the Mizzou Academy annual teaching and learning conference in Brazil. This month, Matheus completed his high courses in the Mizzou Dual Diploma program where he studies at Notre Dame (Campinas, SP). He and Marilia presented on the continued need to work for women’s rights. This…
Nov. 23, 2022
A Long Commitment to Gifted Education
Did you know that Mizzou Academy was the first online school to get an Advanced Placement course approved by the College Board? More than twenty years ago, Karen Scales, who now serves as Mizzou Academy’s global English Language Arts division chair, approached the College Board about launching Advanced Placement or AP courses at Mizzou Academy. At the time, the College Board was—skeptical. “A core objective of AP learning involves collaborative scholarship,” explains Scales, “the kind of meaningful thought work that happens when learners come together to ask questions, discuss, explore, and debate. The College Board wondered how that could…
Nov. 21, 2022
Right at Home at Mizzou
Lara Stefani, Mizzou Academy Alumna, Continues her Undergraduate Studies at Mizzou Lara Stefani, Mizzou Academy Alumna Although she is 5,000+ miles from home, Lara Stefani is no stranger to Mizzou, since she graduated from the University of Missouri High School in December 2021. As a high school student, Lara earned two high school diplomas before enrolling as a first year biochemistry major at Mizzou. The Dual Diploma Program at Mizzou Academy enables international students to earn both a diploma from their home country and a U.S. diploma. In Lara’s case, this meant a high school diploma from the University…
Nov. 1, 2022
Mizzou Marketing Project in Maringá
“It takes a lot more planning to put together a food stand than I imagined,” shares Laura Fabri about a recent school social studies project. “We have to prepare more than just the product we are going to sell and the selling itself. …Offering a good service can count more than having a good product because clients are happier and feel more welcome when we are nice and gentle, when we pay attention to them!” These are invaluable lessons for anyone interested in business, service, or entrepreneurship. Laura, a Dual Diploma high school student at Colégio Objetivo (Maringá, PR) learned…
Oct. 21, 2022
Fall Honor Award Celebration – Congratulations to Paul Craigmile!
Paul Craigmile is a Columbia local and traces his educational roots to our Columbia Public Schools (shout out to Russell Blvd. Elementary, West Middle School, and Rock Bridge High School) and Mizzou. While he has deep local roots, his work with Mizzou Academy includes giving feedback to students from around the globe. Paul excels at this, and his talents for compassion, encouragement, and teaching have not gone unnoticed. On Wednesday, October 19, Paul Craigmile was named the Mizzou Academy 2022 Fall Honor Award Recipient. The announcement came at an enthusiastic zoom meeting and was a “complete surprise” to Paul who…
Oct. 18, 2022
Professional Learning Series with Immanuel International Academy & Mizzou Academy
Strengths-Based Approaches for our Communities and Classrooms Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver is quick to share that she had a lot to learn as a new teacher. “I started my teaching career at a public school in East Oakland, CA. While I made countless mistakes those first few years, I also got three important things right. First, I believed my students were capable of achieving at high levels and always acted accordingly. Second, I genuinely enjoyed being with young people. And finally, I listened actively to the advice and wisdom of my students’ families. Two decades and two degrees later, these three…
Sep. 16, 2022
25 Books to Read Before You Graduate High School
Dr. Adrian Clifton, our lead speech teacher, shares that Their Eyes Were Watching God “…changed my life in high school. It was full of representation and validation.” What books are must reads for the high school students in your classroom or community? One of our partner schools in Brazil recently reached out with a timeless and challenging question: What books should you read before you graduate high school? Our academic team responded with gusto. Like Dr. Clifton, as our teachers shared their nominations for this list, many remembered what each of these titles meant for them in their formative years. …
Sep. 12, 2022
Our Global Learning Community
Mizzou Academy Hosts International Educational Leadership Conference How will you help your students fly this year? A mesmerized group of 50+ educators leaned in close to marvel at the way Mizzou Academy high school student Laís Lazzarotto Basso was flying several feet above the ground. While Laís delighted conference attendees with her aerial dancing performance, the group responded to these questions in the chat. Q1. Share something amazing that is happening in your life. Q2. How will you help your teachers fly this year? (Name specific practices.)Q3. How will you help your students fly this year? (Name specific practices.) Whether…
July 20, 2022
Connecting our Global Curriculum to Local Hunger-Relief Efforts
What does 2,000 pounds of carrots look like? To the student group shown above, it looks like hope. “Studying a huge problem like global hunger can feel abstract and overwhelming. What can one person or one community do to impact change on such a big issue? The answer is a lot.” Brian Stuhlman, our Middle School Coordinator, opens one of the lessons in our Grade 8 Mizzou Global Scholars (MGS) program with this statement. The MGS program calls on student leaders to use their leadership and problem-solving skills to address significant local and global issues such as housing…