Millard North High School

About the school

Millard North High School, located in Omaha, Nebraska, is a large suburban public school with over 2,500 students, around 150 of whom are enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme. The school has a strong and well-regarded IB program, which was established in 2004. For the past 5 years, Rhonda Betzold has been the DP Coordinator. 

Background

When the school’s IB Computer Science teacher left unexpectedly in June, Rhonda faced a serious challenge – ensuring continuity of learning for 12-16 year old HL DP2 students preparing for upcoming exams.

“Lanterna stepped in at exactly the right time. It was a real relief, to find a solution we didn’t even know was available.”  – Rhonda Betzold, DP Coordinator, Millard North High School” 

Their Challenge

Losing an IB teacher mid-year is disruptive for any school, but in a specialist subject like Computer Science, finding a qualified replacement can be extremely challenging – especially over the summer months.

“Our IB programme is robust, but losing a teacher mid-year is always a huge challenge. It affects students, staff, and the programme’s continuity.”

The school urgently needed an educator with both strong Computer Science knowledge and a deep understanding of the IB curriculum to guide students through to their final assessments.

“Finding a replacement in Computer Science over the summer was nearly impossible. We explored every option, other well-known online providers, experienced teachers in the area, but nothing fit the bill.”

As August approached, exam preparation time was slipping away, and no local or online solution met the school’s needs – until Rhonda connected with Lanterna.

Our Solution

Rhonda first discovered Lanterna at the IBO Global Conference in New Orleans, and the timing couldn’t have been better.

“Meeting Lanterna felt like fate. They came to us at the perfect moment.”

We quickly partnered with Millard North, providing an experienced IB Computer Science teacher who began working with students in early September. The teacher delivered targeted, high-level online instruction aligned precisely with IB assessment standards and course requirements.

“The Lanterna teacher’s experience with the IB programme was invaluable. He brought exactly what our students and staff needed.”

Our approach was collaborative, designed to strengthen the entire Computer Science department. The Lanterna teacher supported both students and the in-classroom teacher, ensuring the programme maintained consistency and quality.

The Impact

Lanterna’s swift response provided immediate relief for both students and staff. Parents were reassured that their children’s learning and exam preparation were in expert hands, while the faculty described the partnership as transformative.

“The faculty described Lanterna’s solution as a miracle, a real game-changer for our programme.”

The combination of responsiveness, clear communication, and deep IB expertise allowed Millard North to overcome what could have been a major setback.

“Their flexibility and responsiveness have been incredible. They understood exactly what we needed.”

The Outcome

Lanterna’s Computer Science teacher is scheduled to continue instruction through to the April exams, with additional hours dedicated to Internal Assessment support. Students are now fully prepared and confident as they approach the final stages of the course.

“Lanterna fills in the gaps for experienced instruction and support and I would absolutely use them again.”

For Rhonda, the experience highlighted how effective external IB expertise can be in maintaining continuity, quality, and confidence – even in the face of unexpected staffing challenges.

“Lanterna fills an essential role for us. The experience exceeded expectations and I would absolutely use them again.”