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City People

Failure's not an option

She's thriving on the challenge of starting a premier curriculum at Robinson High School.

By AMY SCHERZER
Published August 4, 2006

INTERBAY

If everything went according to plan Thursday, Kellie Norton welcomed 120 ninth-graders in the class of 2010 to Robinson High School's inaugural International Baccalaureate program.

The assistant principal for magnet curriculum, also called the IB coordinator, sped through the past three months preparing to open the county's first new IB program since 1993, when King High followed Hillsborough High's IB component. Opening at Robinson made 145 more IB spots available countywide.

Norton hustled to hire six teachers, admit students and meet with parents. She reconfigured office space, helped map bus routes and tracked textbooks.

"She's absolutely amazing," said Betsy Arizu, IB guidance counselor and a former Plant High chemistry teacher, marveling at Norton's "enthusiasm and make-it-happen commitment to be ready."

Founded in 1968, the rigorous IB curriculum is in more than 1,800 schools in 124 countries. Ninth- and 10th-graders take pre-IB classes; 11th- and 12th-graders study the IB curriculum, including the 100-hour class, Theory of Knowledge, which encourages critical thinking. To earn an IB diploma, seniors must write an extended essay up to 4,000 words, pass final exams and complete 200 hours of outside activities called Creative Action Service (CAS).

"IB actually started with a military connection, so kids overseas would get a standard level of education as they moved from country to country," explained Susan King, supervisor of magnet schools and programs.

Despite such a structured program, Norton is determined to make it Robinson's own.

"We're going to build our own traditions," Norton said. "We're not King or Hillsborough South."

Her first challenge: fit the IB "siblings" into the Robinson family.

"Stealing" two Robinson teachers, Steve Smith and Dan Pippin, should help. Smith, the school's head basketball coach and last year's teacher of the year, teaches algebra. Pippin teaches American government and world history.

"They are well-respected and bring knowledge of Robinson," Norton said.

A Jacksonville IB grad teaches inquiry skills and a former Hillsborough Community College teacher teaches biology. Norton hired two teachers, English and foreign languages, already certified to teach IB classes. The other four will have to go through training.

The newest IB program's boundaries draw students from Robinson, Jefferson, Blake and Plant highs in South Tampa, and Alonso and Leto high schools in North Tampa, including about 60 students from the Westchase area. A few come from Spoto High in Riverview.

For the first time, four buses transport IB students directly to Robinson from the suburbs. No transfer stations are involved.

"I'd say transportation affects 90 percent of issues for entering or leaving IB," King said. "It's a big city, and you can't get anywhere in 10 minutes."

Uniting students from far flung neighborhoods also will challenge Norton, who lives with her husband, Scott, in Valrico. She looks to electives and extracurriculars such as the school's MacDill Aeronautical Academy, ROTC, band, cheerleading and sports to help them mix.

"I want them to be involved in more than academics," Norton said. "I want them to be in as much as they can."

To further that goal, IB classrooms are not housed in a separate wing, like at other IB schools, but are dispersed throughout the Robinson campus.

"Our students will be walking the halls with all the other students," she said

Norton, 36, began her career in Hillsborough County teaching English at Durant High in 1995, when it opened.

"Durant began the first bloc schedule program in the county," Norton said. That experience will help as IB freshmen adapt to a modified bloc program of four 90-minute classes a day, alternating between A and B schedules to take eight classes a year.

In 2001, Norton moved into administration at King High School, where she spent a year as assistant principal of student affairs.

"At King, I became somewhat familiar with IB," she said. "And now they're so helpful to us."

She filled the same assistant principal position at Freedom High, helping to open the New Tampa campus in 2002. The class she started with graduated in May.

"I was already working at Robinson, but I wouldn't think of missing Freedom's graduation," Norton said.

Another Norton challenge: completing a two-year application and evaluation process for authorization to run an IB diploma school.

"The school district has been very supportive," Norton said, singling out Robinson principal Laura Zavatkay and area director Valerie Orihuela.

Don't ask her what happens if the new IB doesn't win accreditation from the international organization. Norton says failure is not an option.

"That's not in our vocabulary," she said. "We have the tools and resources. There's not a doubt in my mind."

Amy Scherzer can be reached at www.sptimes.com or 226-3332.

*   *   *

Kellie Norton

AGE: 36

HOME: Valrico

MILITARY BRAT: Born in Norfolk, Va., lived in Mississippi, Florida and California

MARRIED: Salesman husband of 11 years, Scott, "the man behind the scene. My calm and steady inspiration."

DEGREES: Bachelor's in English education from University of North Florida; master's in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University

PETS: Two dogs, Cocoa, a chihuahua-wirehaired terrier mix, and Hercules, a beagle-dachshund mix.

SOMETHING FISHY: Three aquariums at home and will have one at school. "I don't eat seafood but enjoy taking care of fish."

CARD SHARK: Quite the poker player, especially Texas Hold'em

CRUISER: Mostly to the Caribbean, but planning a European cruise next year.

QUOTE: "People think very highly of Robinson. I want to part of that Camelot magic."

[Last modified August 2, 2006, 12:46:30]