Paris ISD’s Future Problem Solving Program

Paris ISD’s Future Problem Solving Program continues to dominate Texas
By Sandra Strom and Debb Fleming

Recently, Paris ISD won five State Championships and many other medals and awards at the Texas State Future Problem Solving Bowl, held at the Convention Center in San Marcos. State Championships were in a variety of components of the FPS Program. Future Problem Solving is a program that teaches students how to think, not what to think. They learn how to solve real-world problems, as well as problems in their communities, and they find out how to have a powerful impact by not only dealing with current concerns but by projecting challenges twenty or more years into the future. They learn how to create positive change, how to solve underlying problems, and how to formulate action plans that impact local, national, and international stakeholders.

In the Community Problem Solving component, Paris had one Senior Division team, Project SMILE, a celebration of the centennial of the Paris Fire of 1916, which At Large Grand Champion. Students on this team are Romy Newberry, Cheyenne Plummer, Shikha Prakash, Katie Watson, Allissya Standifer, and Grace Perry. This team will advance and compete for Texas at the International Future Problem Solving Conference in June at Michigan State University. Also advancing to IC will be Operation Heart 2 Heart, an Individual Community Project in the Junior Division by Ava Lassiter. After Ava had learned that there is approximately 200 homeless youth in Lamar County, she decided to increase awareness of youth homelessness in Lamar County so that citizens will be compelled to assist with their needs. The coach for the community service projects is Debb Fleming.

In the Scenario Writing component, Paris ISD had both the Junior Division and the Middle Division State Champions in Hannah Syed and Miracle Valenzuela. Both of these young ladies, along with State Second Place Junior Division winner Davis Green, Second Place Middle Division winner Mikaila Rogers, and Second Place Senior Division winner Zain Syed will also compete in the On-Site Scenario Competition at the International Conference. Davis also has qualified to compete in the Scenario Performance competition, a new component designed by FPSP Australia to develop and sustain the oral tradition of storytelling. Participants in this competition develop futuristic stories to present in a creative and entertaining manner.

In Team and Individual Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS), Paris brought home the Senior Division State Championship from the team of Graham Bain, Zachary De la Garza, Keshauwn Ellis, and Reagan Stone. Teams and Individuals research a topic and then receive a futuristic scenario for which they must develop challenges, solutions, and an action plan in two hours with no notes. Then, they are judged by public and private school teams of all sizes from across the state of Texas. In addition to the first place team representing Texas at the International Conference, the Fourth Place Senior Division team of Sam Cannon, Dixon Grossnickle, Brendan Henry, and Jacob Stripland will also compete, as well as the Third Place Individual GIPS competitor, Lucas Grossnickle. From Crockett Intermediate School, the State Second Place Junior Division team will also represent Texas. They are Ava Lassiter, Lindley Loughmiller, Landree Madding, and Alaina White.

Also earning medals in Global Issues at State Bowl were the following teams:
In the Senior Division, Mason Hevron was a member of the First Place Alternate Team. In the Middle Division, Austin Whitaker was a member of the Third Place Alternate Team. Claire Brown, Grace Brown, Mollie Clement, and Adryan McGuire were Semi-Finalists. The team of Patxsonnia Brown, Makayla Brown, Hannah Hervey, and Mallory Kennedy and the team of Caitlin Simpson, Shreya Singh, Angeline Tacuyan, and Kendra Thomas were Top Ten Finalists. The team of Shikha Prakash, Mallory Shoemake, Anna Grace Thrasher, and Zoie Young placed Fifth in the State.
In the Junior Division earning Second Place in the Presentation of Action Plan was the team of Hana Syed, Davis Green, Teddy Hubbard, Shannon White, Ava Lassiter, and Lindley Loughmiller.

Additionally, receiving bids and qualifying to compete at the State Bowl in Global Issues Team Competition were the following students:
Reagan Benson, Kira McFadden, Hannah England, Will Elliott
Shelby Wilson, Anthony Pierotti, Codi Clark, Arleigh White
Zachery Lamb, Colin Harris, Cheyenne Plummer, Jeffery White
Tiesha Easter, Justice Flowers, Jada Lee, Dextiny Patrick
Brody Holleman, Shravya Singh, Carter Benson, and Christian Wilson

The topic student competitors addressed at this year’s State Bowl was the Global Workplace. The topic that they will be discussing at International Conference will be Energy of the Future. Senior Division FPS coaches are Sandra Strom and Dr. Janet Dickey; Middle Division coaches are Kathy Peterson, Jill Stone, and Kathryn Jones; Junior Division coaches are Debb Fleming and Tammy King. Community Problem Solving Coach is Debb Fleming.