October 11, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Redmond, Wash. – Horace Mann Elementary School and Louisa May Alcott Elementary School have been named two of 86 “Schools of Distinction” by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for dramatic improvements in student reading and mathematics over the past several years.

On Wednesday, Lake Washington School District Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball and Principals Darryl Pernat (Mann Elementary), Karen Mason (current Alcott principal) and Karin Janik (former Alcott principal) joined the state superintendent of public instruction, Dr. Terry Bergeson, along with representatives of the Mann and Alcott staffs to accept the awards at a statewide press event in the Seattle area.

“I am very proud of the hard work over the years by the staff members at Alcott and Mann,” noted Dr. Chip Kimball. “This award is recognition of teachers working with each child to ensure they are not only understanding and working at standard but in most cases are even above standard.”

OSPI’s Schools of Distinction represent the top five percent of elementary, middle and high schools whose students have shown outstanding growth in both reading and mathematics skills during a six-year period. This year’s winning schools include 51 elementary schools, 20 middle schools and 15 high schools – out of nearly 2,500 schools in the state.

To be considered for the award, each school had to meet the current year’s state learning targets on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning for students in both reading and mathematics.

Schools that met the reading and mathematics targets were then evaluated for six-year gains on the state’s “Learning Improvement Index.” Because the award is based on improvement across a six-year period, only results from grades four, seven and 10 were used, as those are the only grade levels with six years of trend data.

Independent research and analysis to establish criteria for the awards and to identify the schools with the greatest improvement was conducted by Greg Lobdell of the Center for Educational Effectiveness in Redmond.

“Our whole team of teachers, students and parents worked together for the improvement of student achievement,” noted Karin Janik, former principal of Alcott Elementary who is now a principal on special assignment. “The staff met together and examined the data for each child. We developed continuums of learning from kindergarten all the way through sixth grade. That way, we could help students move along the path, no matter where they started.”

“This award really belongs to the excellent and dedicated teaching staff at Alcott. We’ve been happy to continue the tradition of the monthly Math Challenge that provides extra practice for students in a fun format,” noted Alcott Principal Karen Mason. “The PTSA partners with the school to provide additional help through Homework Club and other programs that support our students.”

“The teachers in our school have done an excellent job using data to help them understand what kids need to learn,” noted Mann Elementary Principal Darryl Pernat. “Our teachers have worked together to focus on what is important. We also have great parents sending students to school well-prepared and ready to learn. It’s that partnership between the teachers and the parents that makes this a great place for kids to learn.”

School leaders from each of the winning schools were presented with awards and a large banner reading “School of Distinction – 2007 State Superintendent’s Learning Improvement Award.”

Additional information on the award program, and a list of all Schools of Distinction, can be found on the OSPI Web site.

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About Lake Washington School District
The Lake Washington School District is the sixth largest district in the state of Washington. It has more than 23,000 students in 49 schools located in Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington.