The Independent Study and Mentorship (ISM) is a challenging course offered only to juniors and seniors at Frisco ISD high schools. 

 

Students who want to take ISM have to fill out an application and go through a selection process to be chosen to participate in this exciting elective. They select careers or topics of study, and the ISM teacher helps students narrow down and focus on this topic of study. Students conduct informational interviews with professionals in this chosen field and from this process, they carefully choose a mentor with whom to work for the remainder of the year.

 

 

The ISM teacher guides with several components, including important interview and mentor selection processes, intense research, original idea generation, original product design, and written analysis of research. Furthermore, the ISM teacher works closely with the students on professionalism, time management, effective oral and written communication, interpersonal skills, interviewing, resume writing, and goal setting to help prepare these students for success in their mentorship experience and in life after high school.