Discovering the Richness of Earned Achievement through the IB Diploma Program

Watching a bunch of high school students compete in an egg race, laughing and cheering each other on, you might not guess that the group are International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma candidates, enrolled in one of the most challenging courses of study at George School.

But pursuing an IB diploma can be intense, so IB Coordinator Kim McGlynn makes sure to bring some silliness into the classroom when she can. This “work hard, play hard” approach is a critical part of the success of the program at George School, which boasts one of the highest diploma completion rates in the world.

The IB program is an extraordinary and challenging two-year curriculum that prepares students for college anywhere around the world. It structures and balances rigorous academic work with requirements that push students outside the classroom into community service, creativity, and physical activity. The focus is not on content knowledge, but on gaining transferable, lifelong skills and developing caring, knowledgeable, and self-motivated students.

In Kim’s view, the IB program is a distillation of all the things that make George School such a special place. Originally hired to teach English in 2006, Kim was drawn to George School because it held values that aligned with hers.

“I have been involved and invested in Friends education and progressive education for my entire life,” Kim said. “I went to Germantown Friends and ran cross country. I can distinctly remember running past Drayton during a race. Little did I know then that years later I would be living in Drayton as a dorm parent!”

As a member of the English Department, Kim helped develop the IB English curriculum and still teaches the high-level IB English Literature course. Her appreciation of these experiences combined with her level of involvement in the community eventually led her to take on the role of IB Coordinator in 2019.

“Our mission statement ends with a reminder to let our students’ lives speak; the IB mission statement ends by reminding us that other people with their differences can also be right,” she explains. “These are congruent in the sense that George School teaches us to have a voice, self-advocate, and make yourself heard while IB teaches that others have voices, too, that it is important to listen, and not just speak out.”

The program teaches students to strive for success—but it also helps them learn to accept failure as a part of the educational process.

“We do not teach students to be complacent about failure; rather, we reinforce the concept that you can’t achieve anything greater if you don’t learn how to fail,” she said. “We use reflection to be explicit about the growth process. There are no participation trophies in IB.”

Every student who pursues an IB track is a risk-taker. “It is impossible not to take a risk through IB. When enrolling in the program, students do not know if they are going to earn the IB diploma or not. They take risks through all the work they do. These students are motivated by knowing the reward is so much greater when you push yourself beyond comfort zones. There is so much pride to be found in earned achievement.”

As coordinator, Kim registers students for the IB Exams and ensures that George School adheres to the IB program guidelines, both of which require a great deal of organizational skill and attention to detail. More importantly, though, Kim sees her role as being a cheerleader—uplifting and honoring the work that IB students do.

“Students who pursue the IB diploma seek great challenges and accomplish amazing feats worthy of recognition,” said Kim. “Our IB students are committed to excellence and have an intellectual curiosity to learn, not for the sake of a grade, but because they embrace the idea of learning. They choose this path because they share a common drive, ambition, and perseverance. I try to help these amazing students recognize themselves. When I meet with students, I always reinforce that I see their hard work, which should be honored.”

Currently, Kim is working to increase exposure for her IB students within George School. “They work really hard to achieve amazing results,” she said. “That is something we should recognize as a school community.”

IB students build skills that will help them well-beyond their time at George School. “Alumni come back and tell me that they are so grateful to have done the IB program,” Kim said. “They feel confident in navigating academic, social, and professional challenges in life because IB teaches you to accept challenges and feel comfortable with stumbling. IB also teaches you how to get back on your feet and keep moving forward to help create a better and more peaceful world.”