Monrovia Middle Schools Honored as California Distinguished Schools
By Monrovia Weekly
Published: Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Santa Fe and Clifton Middle Schools Receive State’s Highest Award for Academic Excellence and Student Achievement
Last week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell called Monrovia Principals Ron Letourneau and Traci Gholar, with the good news that both of Monrovia’s middle schools had passed a grueling and thorough program quality review with flying colors and have been selected to receive the prestigious California Distinguished School Award. Santa Fe and Clifton Middle Schools were singled out for praise from Sacramento because they have compiled outstanding records of academic growth and have demonstrated educational excellence that has significantly narrowed the achievement gap for all students.
The two middle schools were invited to apply for Distinguished School honors because they met a variety of eligibility criteria including designated federal and state accountability measures based on No Child Left Behind, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), and the Academic Performance Index (API) requirements. Following a successful data review by the State Department of Education, a team of educators from throughout the state visited the campuses of Clifton and Santa Fe Middle Schools last month to validate that the classroom instructional programs and campus environment are exemplary and inspiring and effectively motivate students from the various groups and backgrounds that comprise the student body. The review teams were impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of the teaching staffs, support personnel and administrators, and by the spirit, achievement, and pride of the students and recommended the granting of the awards.
Santa Fe Principal Ron Letourneau pointed out that this award “…carries special significance because it amounts to a seal of approval bestowed by professional educators outside of the school and district. We know how special this school is and this award brings us a sense of validation.”
After sharing the good news of the award selection with her staff, Clifton Principal Traci Gholar remarked that “…the Clifton Middle School staff is honored to have received the 2009 Distinguished School recognition. This recognition is indicative of the powerful teaching and learning that takes place on our campus everyday for every student.”
Superintendent Louise Taylor commented on the middle school honors: “We are so proud of the school programs and student progress at both Clifton and Santa Fe. Their California Distinguished School Awards affirm our pride, and their successes. The validation teams that visited each school for a full day in March were full of enthusiasm and praise for all the schools have accomplished, and left with notebooks brimming with ideas they plan to share with other schools. We look forward to the well-deserved celebration of these two Monrovia middle schools at the State event on May 29th!”
Typically, only about 5% of schools are awarded the California Distinguished School title. With these newly announced awards, six (6) Monrovia Unified School District schools proudly hold the California Distinguished School title, symbolic of being in the top 5% of the State.
State Superintendent O’Connell pointed out that: "California Distinguished Schools must meet the challenge of providing all their students with a rigorous education and to fully prepare today’s students for success in postsecondary education or the workforce. In an increasingly competitive global economy, it is important that the academic success of all of today’s students is directly linked to the effectiveness, competiveness, and resiliency of our not-too-distant future workforce.
"In addition, these extraordinary middle…schools have shown they are able to increase the achievement of all their students and have provided evidence that they are closing the achievement gaps that, unfortunately, exist at many schools. The Distinguished Schools program always identified schools that are leaders in academic achievement. It now also recognizes schools that are leaders in helping all students succeed, and highlights the best practices that are effective in closing the gap."
The Distinguished School Awards will be presented to the schools at a celebratory event at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 29th. The Disneyland Resort is a major corporate sponsor of the event.
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