For immediate release
Dec. 7, 2010
Kathy Toelkes, Director of Communications, 785-296-4876
Five Kansas Schools Nominated for Blue Ribbon Schools Awards
TOPEKA—Education Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker today announced that she will send five nominations to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for the 2011 National Blue Ribbon (NBR) Schools Award Program. These schools will be invited by Secretary Duncan to apply for this prestigious award. The final selection of the 2011 NBR schools will be made in September 2011.
The NBR program honors elementary and secondary schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap, recognizing those schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds and have dramatically improved student performance to high levels in reading and mathematics. The program also recognizes schools in which students achieve in the top 15 percent in the state on reading and mathematics assessments regardless of demographics.
“It gives me great pleasure to nominate these five schools for this prestigious award,” said Dr. DeBacker. “These schools represent the progress being made in Kansas schools through a focused effort on ensuring all students achieve to high standards. They are to be commended for their commitment to student learning.”
A committee consisting of school administrators, staff members from previously honored NBR schools, representatives from the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), the Kansas Association of School Boards, and the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals reviewed the data on schools deemed to be dramatically improved to high levels and those achieving at high levels regardless of demographics. The result of the process was the selection of five schools in two categories.
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Five schools nominated for NBR Award
Dec. 3, 2010
Group A – Schools identified as dramatically improved to high levels, serving at least 40 percent disadvantaged students.
MacArthur Elementary School
925 S. Holly
Liberal, KS 67905
Principal: Shawna Evans
Liberal USD 480
Superintendent: Lance Stout
Oswego High School
1501 Tomahawk Trail
Oswego, KS 67356
Principal: Cindy Sanders
Oswego USD 504
Superintendent: Terry Karlin
Group B – Schools in the top 15 percent of the state on the reading and mathematics assessments, regardless of demographics.
Louisburg High School
202 Aquatic Drive
Louisburg, KS 66053
Principal: Mr. Dave Tappan
Louisburg USD 416
Superintendent: Dr. Sharon Zoellner
Sunflower Elementary School
775 North Center
Gardner, KS 66030
Principal: Dustin Mortenson
Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
Superintendent: Dr. Bill Gilhaus
Union Valley Elementary School
2501 E. 30th
Hutchinson, KS 67502
Principal: Randy Roberts
Buhler USD 313
Superintendent: Dr. David Brax
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