Updated 2002
In 1984, Lynda Plummer had a problem. Her five year old daughter was old enough to enroll in school. The problem was that she had been reading for two years, and had taught herself to multiply. For kindergarten, a private school promised to educate her daughter at a challenging level, but after enrollment, failed to do anything but "teach" her the alphabet. Then in first grade, a public school promised to cross-grade her, which meant her daughter would go to first grade for part of the day and second grade for part of the day. The public school failed to do so. The daughter was becoming depressed, a serious sign in a 6-year-old. Meanwhile, Lynda Plummer had been extensively researching cutting-edge education and what the futurists were calling for in order to cure our nation's educational problems, which were described in "Nation at Risk", a publication put out in 1983 by the U.S. Department of Education, detailing the pitiful education our children were receiving. After seeing first-hand what was available in Wichita Falls, and being rebuffed in her attempts to institute educational reform, Lynda Plummer thought it unlikely that the schools would change enough in her children's lifetime to give them the education they needed. By that time, she had two more children developing at the same rate as her first daughter. Lynda Plummer was left with no choice but to open a school that would prepare her children for their very different future in the 21st century.

In 1985, Lynda Plummer founded Bright Ideas School as a parent cooperative. Although Bright Ideas is no longer a cooperative, the school has continued to encourage teachers to enroll their own children to help them retain the sense of personal mission and ownership. The school's population is 21% minority. Over 50% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Parents enroll their children at Bright Ideas because they want a better life for their children, and they know that a better life means their children must complete a college degree.

The school's focus has remained the same over the past 17 years, which is to use the best of what's known in brain-mind science to challenge each child to his fullest potential. The school's goal is to prepare graduates to successfully compete in a global marketplace. As a result, Bright Ideas' students continue to push the envelope of what's generally thought to be possible in achievement. Without screening of any kind, 21% of the students are accelerated. Some are 4 years advanced.

Bright Ideas' first graduate is 23 years old. She graduated at 20 with two degrees, one in Computer Science with a minor in Math and the other in Humanities with a concentration in Spanish. She was the Hardin Scholar, which is the highest academic award given at MSU. One of our 2002 graduates is graduating from high school and MSU simultaneously with a degree in Physics, and a minor in Math. He's 18 years old. . All of the high school students begin taking courses for concurrent credit at MSU at ages 14-17. Presently, Bright Ideas' youngest student at MSU is 14. 100% of the school's graduates have either completed a college degree or are presently working on one.

Bright Ideas is successful for three important reasons. First, parents and staff believe that intelligence is not fixed, that every child can learn at a much higher level than is commonly thought. We believe that time is a variable, effort is a variable, but that achievement need not be a variable. Instead of pigeon-holing children by age, teachers search for the level that challenges them, and then group children by level of challenge. Second, students are taught to direct their learning and manage their time so that learning does not end when they go home from school. Last, the teachers use curriculum that stimulates deep thinking and powerful learning.

In 1990, Lynda Plummer spearheaded the design of a framework for curriculum that delivers what research says is needed for the 21st century global village: knowledge about different cultures and skills that are globally competitive. This framework, called Connections Between Cultures®, provides a firm structure for interdisciplinary project work. It makes it easy for each child to work at a challenging level. It fulfills long-term goals of increasing higher level thinking, and provides in depth learning about the history of the world's cultures. As evidenced above, this curriculum and Bright Ideas' teaching strategies have been very successful in producing high achievement. Bright Ideas was ready for the next step.

In 1993, Lynda Plummer formed Connections Between Cultures, Inc., a private corporation formed to market the curriculum designed by the teachers. The teachers receive royalties on curriculum they author, thereby providing incentives to refine the curriculum. The corporation also provides training in using the curriculum and training in restructuring schools to best utilize the curriculum. This corporation enables Bright Ideas to spread its strategies for success beyond its walls.

When Lynda Plummer founded Bright Ideas, not only did she want to provide a superior education for her own children, she wanted to influence educational reform in Wichita Falls. She had been successful in meeting the first goal, but the second goal had been frustratingly elusive. While students at Bright Ideas were getting an exceptional education, most students in Wichita Falls were getting a very poor education. For example, 52% of the freshmen at Midwestern State University have to take remedial courses before they can take regular college courses. In contrast, 100% of Bright Ideas' students take college courses before they graduate high school. However, even with Bright Ideas' outstanding track record of high achievement, the public schools were disinterested in Bright Ideas' methods. In 1996, it became clear that unless Bright Ideas directly competed for students, it would have no power to influence educational reform in Wichita Falls.

Thus, in 1997, the decision was made to apply for charter school status. By joining the public sector, Bright Ideas could prove that a public school can get the same extraordinary results as a private school. Less fortunate children must have the opportunity to get the world class education that Bright Ideas has proven it can deliver.

The best education in Wichita Falls is FREE! Bright Ideas was awarded a charter and became a charter public school in September, 1998. Attendance became free for all students. Finally, all children in the Wichita Falls area have access to the very best preparation for college.

Next Page: Bright Ideas School, Staff and Board Members Information.