District celebrates accomplishments being made in the classroom
(Geronimo) – Navarro Elementary School is one of 26 Texas schools to earn one of the most prestigious awards in education.
Navarro Elementary has been named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The designation was announced last week by U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.
Navarro ISD Superintendent Wendi Russell says although the elementary campus was recognized, the celebration is districtwide.
“We are one of 26 (in the state). There were only 325 out of the United States that were recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools, so it is a huge honor for Navarro ISD, the staff, the students and the community,” said Russell.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes and celebrates school excellence, school transformation, and the elimination of achievement gaps between student subgroups.
Schools may be nominated as Exemplary High Performing — among the top schools in a state — or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing — schools making the fastest progress in their state in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Russell says being named a National Blue Ribbon School is not about one grade level or state test. She says it takes all staff to set high expectations and to ensure that all students have a strong foundation in reading and math. More importantly, she says it’s about building relationships with parents and community members.
“To be recognized as a Blue Ribbon, you need to meet that requirement by one of two ways — either by high performance or by closing the gap so our elementary school was selected for the Blue Ribbon by meeting the gap – closing those gaps for our students which means that we are teaching all students and holding them to the same expectations, to the same level. We are filling in those foundational skills starting at pre-k and kindergarten and working all the way up so when they get to third grade and they take that first assessment from the state, our scores are showing that our students are all performing at a very high level,” said Russell.
Navarro Elementary Principal, Laurel Wilson is also celebrating the news and applauding each of the components that help make kids successful.
“The success of Navarro Elementary comes from a combination of long-lasting relationships, knowing student backgrounds, and prescriptive instruction to meet individual needs. The positive language shared across the campus sets the tone for crucial conversations, modeling behavior, and high expectations,” said Wilson.
She adds that faculty and staff members have spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on the district’s vision and how that translates into the campus vision and the school’s actions.
She says strong relationships are what set Navarro Elementary apart from any other school. She says teachers and staff provide endless examples of moments where they have supported one another during a difficult time or where staff has gone above and beyond to form a close relationship with a challenging student to help them be more successful.
In addition, she says low teacher turnover on the campus results in teachers who have a long-lasting history with local families and the community. She says there is often an outside connection that links teachers and families together because of the longevity of the relationships that have been formed over the years. These extended personal connections, as well as frequent teacher check-ins, she believes helps to establish trust and reliability beyond the school walls.
While the impact of COVID has temporarily changed the look of school, Wilson says the importance of reaching the whole child has not changed. She says when students walk into the front doors of the school, they can feel assured that every adult on campus has their individual needs and interests at heart, and that a pandemic will not get in the way of their success.
District officials say schools are first nominated by the state department of education. They are then asked to complete a comprehensive application about school practices. She says it was thrilling to have received a phone call about the nomination this past spring from the Texas Education Agency.
“I just want to say that it’s the efforts of all the staff. It is based off of our third-grade scores but it’s not just our third-grade teachers. It’s every teacher coming together to make sure that all students are reaching those expectations and then setting those expectations high so that the kids and the parents work together with our staff. It’s also about communication and about making sure that we are filling in those gaps and working with our students when they are not understanding what the problem is,” said Russell.
This is the first time that a Navarro ISD campus has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School. The closest school to also receive the recognition is in San Antonio. All others are from other parts of the state.
In a statement released to the district, Secretary Cardona states, “This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish.”
As part of the celebration, Russell personally announced the news to the current sixth grade students since it was their test data that the award was based on. A video announcement was also shared with all other students at the elementary level.
School officials will represent Navarro Elementary at a two-day awards ceremony scheduled for Nov. 4-5 in Washington, D.C. There, they will be celebrated for their hard-won achievements and will be presented with a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status.