Keith earns International Baccalaureate designation
Posted on 03/27/2025
Keith Middle School earns International Baccalaureate designation
Keith Middle School has been designated an International Baccalaureate World School by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), authorizing the school to offer the renowned IB Middle Years Program (MYP), which began on March 18, 2025. Keith joins New Bedford High School which earned its IB designation in 2023.
In the congratulatory letter of authorization to Keith Principal David Mather, IB Director General Olli-Pekka Heinonen, wrote “As an IB World School offering the MYP, you are part of a global community of schools committed to developing knowledgeable, caring young people who will be ready to negotiate their futures successfully and make contributions resulting in a more harmonious and peaceful world. We commend your school’s educators, administrators, students and families for their active roles in choosing to offer the MYP.”
The IB Middle Years Program is a challenging framework that encourages middle school students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world by building critical thinking skills and their ability to solve complex problems. The MYP curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups that provide a broad and balanced education for early adolescents, including a strong emphasis on student inquiry and the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding, and global engagement.
Superintendent Andrew O’Leary stated “Keith is adopting the highest global academic standards set by the International Baccalaureate Organization. New Bedford High earned its IB accreditation in 2023 for the IB Diploma Program, and Normandin and Roosevelt Middle Schools are also candidates, working on their MYP certifications as well.”
Principal Mather stated “This is a big moment for Keith! It’s exciting because becoming an IB school elevates the academic experience for our students, giving them opportunities to learn in new and exciting ways. It’s a chance for us to take our commitment to excellence to the next level, developing future-ready, globally-minded learners.”
Brian Turner, Chief Academic Officer, noted, “New Bedford Public Schools’ MYP will be a three-year program for grades 6 through 8 that adheres to the highest standards of teaching and learning based on international criteria.”
Certification involved a rigorous application and review process, including detailed submissions of curricula, consultancy and verification visits. Keith students, families, educators, and school
committee members participated in the process. Team members engaged in IB content reviews, professional development and collaborative student-centered curriculum design.
The path to authorization was a 2 ½-year collaborative effort of Keith and district staff, including, Elizabeth Metzler, Keith’s MYP Coordinator. “Being an MYP school is a game-changer for us at Keith. It’s about much more than just learning content. It’s about encouraging our students to be global citizens, think critically, and approach problems from different angles. This will help them grow as individuals, both in and out of the classroom,” said Ms. Metzler, who is also the school’s Manager of Educator Quality (MEQ).
One of many Keith teachers involved in the certification noted that the process created a “shift in teaching that has led many to dive deeper into their curriculum. It was reassuring at the final interview to see that Keith had an overwhelming number of components in place to support the learner and staff.”
Jayce Nova, 6th grade student said, “I think that the process of becoming an IB school was interesting, though not necessarily easy. I also enjoyed the process because it benefited me. It was a great opportunity to express myself and share my feelings about how great Keith is as a school.”
Parent Nicole Vaz noted, “I know the staff put in a ton of work to make this happen – training, adjusting lesson plans, and making sure everything aligned with IB standards. As a parent, it’s great to see a school so dedicated to improving the learning experience for our kids.”
New Bedford Public Schools is committed to developing a community of learners who are academically proficient; demonstrate strong character and exhibit self-confidence.