The story of Penny, Dennis, and Robin (PDR)…like most of us, every once in a while, you come across people that you know will be part of your life for a very long time. We worked together on the same campus, teaching in different subjects, as the school navigated the complex journey of MYP authorization, having had the IB Diploma Programme for many years. We experienced the culture shift and climate change that comes with such a challenge at a large, comprehensive high school. The school eventually added the IB Career-related Programme which brought the three of us together as IB programme coordinators; and, we formed a relationship grounded in the belief that all students have the right to an engaging, challenging, and well-balanced education. This prompted us to have several conversations around…where do we go from here and how can we be of service to other like-minded educators?
With over 30 years of experience in education, Penny is unapologetic about her passion for the IB. She taught dance in both the MYP and DP. After leaving the classroom, she served as the CP coordinator and eventually supported multiple programmes at the district level. Penny is a member of IB Educator Network (IBEN) and supports schools across the country through a variety of roles in three of the four IB programmes (MYP, DP, and CP).
Dennis taught MYP Design and ultimately became the MYP coordinator, overseeing about 800 personal projects annually. He is a seasoned member of IBEN and has conducted numerous workshops in Design as well as served on site visit teams for more than a decade. Dennis excels as a consultant for MYP schools bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience while delivering information in an approachable manner.
Robin began her journey with the IB in 2008; and here’s where our story began. After teaching MYP Design (in the same department as Dennis) and DP Business Management (while Penny taught DP Dance), she eventually became the Diploma Programme coordinator. Robin’s commitment to doing what is best for over 1200 DP students was both challenging and rewarding. On a journey of personal and professional growth, she opted to move to a school navigating both MYP and DP authorization. She is also a member of IBEN.
While serving as IB programme coordinators, the three of us shared a small office (seriously, it was small). Collaboration was both necessary and unavoidable which pushed us and the programmes to continuously improve. We faced many challenges, survived quite a few road trips, supported each other during the highs and the lows, and shared a whole lot of laughter. We believe strongly in the IB and its ability to transform a school, the educators that work there, and the students they serve. We are committed to developing sustainable programmes, focused on continuous improvement, and are eager to support others in the evolution of their IB programme(s).
