The Alison Bixby Stone School became a bilingual school in the early 90s. With the help of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University, the overall philosophy of the school was developed and institutionalized through its vision and mission statements. Standards were then set for a high-quality curriculum, research-based instruction, and the hiring of highly-qualified teachers possessing a teaching certificate or license from the US or another developed English-speaking country. The school’s relationship with Purdue continues through a yearly study-abroad program which brings undergraduates to volunteer at the school, as well as through opportunities for ABSS’s Honduran teachers to pursue advanced degrees at Purdue University itself. Sara Solórzano, a teacher at ABSS for eight years, is currently working towards her Ph.D. on a full scholarship at Purdue.
The current dynamic, standards-based curriculum maps have been generated for each academic area based on these early documents developed with the help of Purdue. These maps are continually updated, integrated, and coordinated from kindergarten through sixth grade. In 2009, ABSS was awarded accreditation by AdvancEd, the umbrella organization for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). ABSS is one of only six schools in Honduras with US accreditation.
Not for profit – The Alison Bixby Stone School is a nonprofit organization functioning under a 501(c)(3) status through the Escuela Agricola Panamericana (EAP), also known as Zamorano. ABSS is the only school in Honduras with accreditation from the US to also have a strong, secular social mission. Forty percent of the student population comes from surrounding rural communities and receives financial support. In addition, ABSS provides on-going teacher training for local Honduran public school teachers. The school is able to continue its scholarship and teacher training programs with the gracious support of its generous donors. Its primary donor, the Zemmuray Foundation, provides a yearly grant to support children from the surrounding rural communities.
Relationship with Zamorano – In 2006, Zamorano officially annexed ABSS as a department. Zamorano is an agricultural university dedicated to developing sustainable agricultural practices throughout Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. ABSS’s facilities are located on the main campus of the university. Zamorano makes a yearly donation to the school to provide sliding scale tuition for the children of their non-professional employees. The university, which has adopted “Learning by Doing” as its motto, also provides a wealth of science field trip opportunities for ABSS’s students. In addition, Zamorano provides maintenance, security, and access to a medical clinic and tax-free purchasing.
Diversity – Many of the ABSS’s students are the children of Zamorano’s diverse teaching faculty, and many more are scholarshipped from the local community. Therefore, ABSS boasts a student population that is diverse both in nationality and in economic background. In many of ABSS’s classrooms, one can find the children of professors working alongside the children of custodians or residents from a nearby orphanage.To further ensure a diverse learning environment, ABSS actively looks for highly-qualified teachers who come from different areas of the world and who possess a wide array of life experiences.
If this sounds like the right kind of environment for your child, call us to arrange a visit. We look forward to the opportunity of sharing more about our special school with you! Please contact us at:
Barbara Torrey
btorrey@zamorano.edu
Phone (504) 776-6140 Ext. 2124
Fax (504) 776-6247
Please send letters of interest by e-mail, fax, or mail to:
Academic Mentor
The Alison Bixby Stone School
Zamorano
Apartado Postal 00093
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Or
Academic Mentor
The Alison Bixby Stone School
Zamorano
TGU #000100
P.O. Box 025387
Miami, Florida
33102-5387
