Changing Society: An Assessment
The American Academy in Tbilisi was created to prepare Georgians for life in the 21st century, by bringing discussion, writing, and an emphasis on critical analysis into the classroom. By now, three classes have graduated from AAT and the fourth did so in the spring of 2008. Each of these classes has sent students to universities in the US, the UK, Europe, and Georgia. How are they doing?Our alumni often come back and visit, and of course we want to know how they are doing in their university programs. A large number of our graduates have been given scholarships recognizing their social commitment and leadership abilities, and they are living up to the expectations of these programs. To a person they report that their work at AAT has been excellent preparation for their studies at their universities. Many report GPAs of 3.5 to 3.9, which means they are in the A range, at universities like Harvard, Trinity, Middlebury, Simmons, and a host of others. AAT students are continuing the pursuit of excellence they started here. What are they doing?Many of our graduates are already giving back to Georgian society through charitable organizations, internships, and special programs of their own creation. Supplying computers and training to local orphanages, organizing a summer program for needy children, working with professional social scientists to develop data bases for the study of Georgian social problems — these are just some of the activities that our recent graduates have been involved in. Our alumni are working hard to use their talents to help Georgia. AAT’s Impact on GeorgiaPart of the mission of AAT is to be a model for the renovation of Georgian education. In this realm the teachers and administration of AAT continue to have a huge impact. Several former employees of AAT now hold jobs in the Ministry of Education, where they have significant influence on the development of national policies. AAT has also provided consultants to the Ministry in Math, Science, Georgian, Russian, History, and Professional Development. AAT’s NGO, the Educational Development and Research Center, continues to work with teachers in Tbilisi and the regions to provide training in the modern teaching techniques used by AAT. To sum up:At the American Academy in Tbilisi we hold imagination, ingenuity, and independence as keys to maintaining the openness necessary for Georgian society to recapture its glorious past. We encourage creative thinking while at the same time demanding and teaching the discipline it takes to succeed. Our aim is to produce trilingual, articulate, well-informed thinkers who have learned not only how to learn, but also how to communicate their learning. We are proud of our accomplishments in these endeavors! |
Feed Entries 
