Mr. Robert Trent 1996 – 2001
It fell to Robert Trent to pull the American School back from a very precarious situation. Having just left his post as director at the American School of Pachuca, Mr. Trent was brought in initially as Interim Director General in June 1996. His first priority was to establish a workable tuition structure that would satisfy the concerns of parents while still ensuring a high quality academic program for the school. This required some difficult decisions. Mr. Trent had inherited a considerable budget deficit so costs had to be cut. Long-term construction plans were put on hold. Teachers who had signed contract agreements in the spring of 1996 found their salary had decreased when they arrived at school in August. Some teachers were let go while others left on their own. Mr. Trent continued with many of the programs instituted by Mr. Prince though funds were limited. By late 1996 the Board of Trustees reorganized the school board replacing those parents who had led the protest against Charles Prince. Robert Trent was then appointed as permanent Director General.
One of the things that Mr. Trent tackled was the redistribution of classroom space. The high school and primary sections switched locations to make the best use of space and the high school quad was landscaped with the addition of a traditional Mexican fountain.
A number of fine arts initiatives took place during Mr. Trent’s tenure. In February 1998 the first Renaissance Fair was held at which high school staff and students dressed up as wandering minstrels, pirates and princesses, scientists and poets, and Shakespearean actors. A celebration of the rebirth of science, philosophy, and the humanities during the 15th and 16th centuries, it felt much like the rebirth of the school itself. A few months later the drama department presented a production of Grease in the newly expanded auditorium. This was followed in 1998-1999 by Androcles and the Lion and Oklahoma, and by A Christmas Carol and The Music Man in 1999-2000.
Technology became a priority as the millennium drew to a close. Mr. Trent encouraged corporate donations which helped put more than 100 new computers in school labs and teachers were given a classroom computer in order to facilitate their workload. The emphasis on academic excellence continued as the AP program grew and test scores improved. An agreement was reached with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) that allowed for more flexibility in course selection, thus uniting the Mexican and US high school programs. Students obtained both a Mexican Bachillerato and a US high school diploma upon graduation. Highly qualified teachers were recruited internationally and more students gained acceptance to top-level universities. As Mr. Trent’s tenure drew to a close it seemed as if the American School had found its confidence again.
Life in Mexico at the Time
1997 Snow falls in Guadalajara for the first time in 116 years
2000 Vicente Fox elected president ending 71 years of one-party rule by the PRI
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World Events of 1996-2001
1996 The Unabomber is captured
1997 Princess Diana killed in a car crash
Mother Theresa dies
1998 Northern Ireland peace agreement reached
The movie “Titanic” is released
Google is created
1999 Columbine school shooting
2000 Concorde crashes in Paris |
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