As we enter the new 2024-2025 school year, we have noticed numerous staff changes, especially when it comes to the new AICE coordinator-Ms. Lezark. Last year, Ms. Tamayo moved to Spanish River Community High School to teach literature. So, it’s important to understand the thought process and goals behind Ms. Lezark’s first year in her new position as AICE coordinator.
In a recent interview with Ms.Lezark, she disclosed that she plans to implement more courses within Palm Beach Central during the upcoming years.
She states that “We already offer almost every course possible, but, I want to add a few more-specifically to benefit our choice programs like engineering.”
Lezark recognizes the strengths we have as a school in our academics, and provides the best we can to build up those choice programs to the best of their ability. Including the AICE program gives Central the opportunity to do so, as it is one of the most rigorous and widely recognized programs in Florida.
Lezark mentions that her biggest objective as being the new AICE coordinator is to reach peak student involvement within the AICE program, and make students want to take AICE courses, all while feeling comfortable taking them-at the same time-also encouraging teachers to take on the challenge of teaching these courses. She has the image of becoming a “full Cambridge school” in her mind as a desired result. Unfortunately, she does acknowledge there are some factors that may limit what she can do. Nevertheless, she accepts that it is still a good goal to have.
Ms.Lezark is no stranger to the AICE program, she started her career with AICE back in 2012 as a teacher, then moving on to being a trainer in 2015. After that, she became the first accredited trainer in the United States in 2019. She describes the experience as “going into your house and not knowing where anything is.” The transition is going well for Lezark, as she is just going deliberately which is expected for anything new.
Even though she is taking up this new challenge of being AICE coordinator, Lezark still teaches AICE general papers and English Literature. If there is someone qualified for this position, it is Ms. Lezark. The AICE program at Palm Beach Central has bright days ahead with a great coordinator in its hands.
