Eastipedia: International Baccalaureate

Juniors and seniors at SM East have the opportunity to take IB classes. IB, or International Baccalaureate, is an educational program offered at select schools around the world. The program focuses on developing students intellectually, personally and emotionally, as well as building social skills. It also has an emphasis on building international perspective and spreading international culture.

Each year SM East has around 70 to 90 IB students made up from both the 11th and 12th grade classes. East and Northwest are the only two Shawnee Mission schools that offer IB. East has had the program since January 1994 and operates with 26 IB teachers. In order to teach an IB class teachers must be trained in the international curriculum. Any time the curriculum changes, all teachers must be re-trained.

All students that complete IB receive the same degree as other East students, but IB students can also receive the IB diploma. Specific tasks like 100 hours of the “Theory of Knowledge” class, a 4500 word essay written over both years in IB and community service are just a few of things required to get the IB diploma.

The IB coordinator at East is Rebecca Murphy, who is in charge of overseeing the curriculum at East based off program’s most current changes. In addition to that Murphy keeps all records, communicates with international offices and is the counselor for all IB students.

“I’m a little bit like an Island. There is nobody in this building that knows exactly what’s required, [or] exactly what I do… [IB Coordinators are] the ones that figure out what the world wants,” said Murphy. “It’s like decoding world expectations, it’s not what you’re used to.”