Williamsville Central School District

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Alternative Instructional Model (AIM)

In addition to the three high schools, Williamsville offers an Alternative Instructional Model (AIM) Program for students enrolled in grades 10-12. AIM provides students with a unique learning environment designed to facilitate the development of positive attitudes toward self, school and community.

The AIM culture is one that emphasizes participation, respect, caring and trust. Supports include increased student-teacher, student-counselor contact; flexibility in scheduling, staffing and use of facilities; varied instructional strategies; and community experiences. The students, in turn, must be able to work independently and demonstrate a solid commitment to completing the coursework leading to attainment of their high school diploma. Students who are successful in the AIM Program may return to their home school or continue at AIM to complete their high school education. The AIM building is located on the Williamsville North High School campus.

Staff

The AIM Program has a staff of four teachers, one counselor, one secretary and one teacher aide. Current staff members are as follows:

Trevor Lawler Social Studies Teacher
Daniel Greiner English Teacher, Wellness Coordinator
Thomas Rajczak Math Teacher
Rosemary Spano Teacher Aide
Andrew Utz School Counselor, Team Leader
Joy Kubiak Secretary
Rachel Tierney Science Teacher

Students
 
Students from each of the District’s three high schools (North, South and East) attend AIM; however since the AIM Building is located on the North High campus, AIM students and staff are more involved with the daily activities of the North High School community. For example, AIM students use the North cafeteria, library, and physical education facilities. Also, many AIM students take elective courses at North.

Students apply to AIM when the home school counselor and administration, and parents, as well as the student, agree that a more individualized program of study would benefit the student. Most students who apply to AIM are lacking one or more credits for their grade level and/or they currently have some failing grades. When students make the decision to attend AIM, they know that their parents, home school and the AIM staff support the decision. Since AIM is a program, not a school, students remain members of their home schools and they are eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics and extracurricular activities.

Questions? Send email to: Andrew Utz

History

AIM (Alternative Instructional Model) has provided an alternative learning environment for students who have not experienced success in a conventional high school setting for more than 30 years. AIM began operations in the fall of 1984 utilizing classrooms in the Casey building, which was then the district administrative center. When Casey reopened as a middle school in 1989, the AIM Program was temporarily housed at North High School while the new AIM building was under construction. AIM occupied its current facility on the North/Casey campus in December of 1989.