International
Baccalaureate coordinators in Minnesota have been
meeting quarterly since the mid-1980’s as the MAIB
(Minnesota Association of International Baccalaureate
Schools).
Through the years, the joint efforts of these
coordinators have been focused on promoting the growth
of IB in the state of Minnesota by assisti
ng new school
applicants to the program and working with the
legislature to gain financial support. They have sought
to bring awareness of the program to the citizens of
Minnesota, colleges and universities throughout
Minnesota, and to educators of Minnesota through college
recognition seminars, workshops, and all-day orientation
sessions.
Members
of MAIB, which now includes representatives from the
Primary Years Program (PYP) and the Middle Years Program
(MYP), in addition to the original body of Diploma
Program (DP) coordinators, have facilitated ongoing IB
staff development through teacher networking sessions.
These all-day gatherings allow new and experienced teachers of IB to share best practices in subject area
groups, as well
as to meet staff from regional offices
of IB in New York and Vancouver. Coordinators have also
valued time with each other to stay fresh and informed
on developments within the parent organization, and to
share ideas on effective techniques in coordination.
They also strive jointly to bring students from IB
schools together, such as with the exciting
all-state
IB CAS Fair. Currently, an MAIB scholarship system is
also being
investigated.
MAIB serves as a link to the Minnesota Department of Education by meeting regularly with the department’s designees and following through on requests made by them. It also sends annual delegates to the North American branch of IB’s sub-regional conferences, and works as a group with the head offices of IB in North America and Vancouver (IBNA).
Minnesota Association of International Baccalaureate Schools is governed by a set of by-laws, last amended and ratified in 2008.