International School of the Americas
Encyclopedia
The International School of the Americas (ISA) is a magnet school
in the North East Independent School District
in San Antonio, Texas
in Bexar County. It is located on the Robert E. Lee High School
campus at 1400 Jackson-Keller Road. It places a focus upon learning from a global perspective as opposed to an Americo-centric worldview. The school is notable for its small student body and for its Model United Nations
conference, named Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA), which is the largest such student-run conference in the nation.
. Its founding was prompted by the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement
, which, economically connecting the United States with Mexico
and Canada
, raised the issue of international relations. Originally envisioned as a professional-development school for Trinity University, ISA began as a magnet program before becoming a full-fledged school. ISA maintains strong ties with Trinity: university students majoring in education may complete internships at ISA as teachers, many ISA teachers are former Trinity students, and many major school events, most notably the annual ceremony for graduating seniors, are held at Trinity.
and the Asia Society
. It is, in addition, a member of the Texas High School Project's T-STEM network, and has been awarded "Exemplar" status by it. ISA has also been noticed and lauded by such organizations as the Goldman-Sachs Foundation.
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
in the North East Independent School District
North East Independent School District
North East Independent School District is a school district located in Bexar County, Texas, . North East ISD serves the north central and northeast areas of Bexar County, covering approximately . North East ISD serves the cities of San Antonio, Castle Hills, Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park,...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in Bexar County. It is located on the Robert E. Lee High School
Robert E. Lee High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School is a high school in San Antonio, Texas. A part of the North East Independent School District, it serves portions of San Antonio, all of the city of City of Castle Hills, and a portion of Balcones Heights....
campus at 1400 Jackson-Keller Road. It places a focus upon learning from a global perspective as opposed to an Americo-centric worldview. The school is notable for its small student body and for its Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
conference, named Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA), which is the largest such student-run conference in the nation.
Origins
ISA's basic premises stem from a concept paper written by Dr. Thomas J. Sergiovanni, a professor of public education at Trinity UniversityTrinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
. Its founding was prompted by the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
, which, economically connecting the United States with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, raised the issue of international relations. Originally envisioned as a professional-development school for Trinity University, ISA began as a magnet program before becoming a full-fledged school. ISA maintains strong ties with Trinity: university students majoring in education may complete internships at ISA as teachers, many ISA teachers are former Trinity students, and many major school events, most notably the annual ceremony for graduating seniors, are held at Trinity.
Activities
With a student body size of around 450, ISA does not have enough students to host its own sports teams, although it does host smaller clubs such as the International Book Club and the Spanish Honor Society. Instead, students participate in activities on the home campus of Lee High School, fostering a bond between the two schools. A large part of ISA culture is the participation in Model United Nations, which becomes a school-wide event each year with the hosting of Model United Nations San Antonio, a national conference with nearly 1,000 participants. Many students also participate in the North East School of the Arts, another magnet program on the Lee campus, but, starting with the Class of 2012, incoming ISA students are now required to commit themselves solely to ISA.Recognition
ISA is a member of many educational and international organizations including the Coalition of Essential SchoolsCoalition of Essential Schools
The Coalition of Essential Schools is an organization created to further a type of whole-school reform originally envisioned by founder Ted Sizer in his book, Horace's Compromise. CES began in 1984 with twelve schools; it currently has 600 formal members.-Horace's Compromise:Horace's Compromise...
and the Asia Society
Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States and around the world Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Melbourne...
. It is, in addition, a member of the Texas High School Project's T-STEM network, and has been awarded "Exemplar" status by it. ISA has also been noticed and lauded by such organizations as the Goldman-Sachs Foundation.
Notable alumni
- Lowell Galindo, ESPNUESPNUESPNU is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced by, affiliated with and owned by parent network ESPN. ESPNU originates out of ESPN Regional Television's ESPNU (often referred to as The U) is a television channel that specializes in college sports, and is produced...
anchor - Eric JungmannEric JungmannEric Joseph Jungmann is an American film and television actor perhaps best known for his role of Jain McManus in Night Stalker. He also had a recurring role of Ivan, Larry Beale's yes-man in the Disney Channel original sitcom Even Stevens...
, actor, Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
. - Kent Zambrana, musician, Letting Up Despite Great FaultsLetting Up Despite Great FaultsLetting Up Despite Great Faults is an Indie/electronic music act founded by Los Angeles native Michael Lee. Pitchfork has dubbed them "shoegaze-y indie pop." Rolling Stone and Canada's Exclaim! have compared them to Postal Service, while the consensus in the blogosphere has been more M83 and The...
.