Sharyland schools receive nomination for prestigious national award
MISSION — Two Sharyland schools are among 26 schools in the state nominated for the 2011 Blue Ribbon Schools recognition.
The award honors schools for academic excellence and for significant progress in closing the achievement gap,
For the past 28 years, the prestigious program has honored more than 5,800 of the nation's most successful schools, including almost 500 Texas schools. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria:
>> Dramatic improvement of student performance to high levels on state tests.
>> Students achieving in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests.
The nominations for B.L. Gray Junior High School, 4400 S. Glasscock Road, Mission, and Sharyland North Junior High School, 5100 Dove Ave., McAllen, are the first for the school district, which is the only one in the state to have more than one school nominated in the improvement category.
The nominated schools were recommended by an intra–agency committee that examined student achievement statistics for the more than 8,000 public school and charter campuses in the state. The schools selected have demonstrated success in closing the achievement gap, and each school has an economically disadvantaged population of 40 percent or greater.
Schools nominated for the award serve as models of best practices for schools across the state.
The nominated schools will now complete a rigorous application process through the U.S. Department of Education. Announcements of the award winners will be made in September 2011.
Schools that receive the award are recognized at the Blue Ribbon School conference in Washington, D.C.
The schools nominated for the improvement category are:
Alpine ISD*: Dr. Jose A. Cervantes, superintendent
>> Alpine High School: Verl L. O’Bryant, principal
Beaumont ISD: Dr. Carrol Thomas, superintendent
>> Martin Elementary School (formerly Lucas Elementary School): Martha Fowler, principal
Breckenridge ISD*: Jennings Teel, superintendent
>> Breckenridge Junior High School: Lee Garner, principal
Corrigan-Camden ISD *: Thomas Bowman, superintendent
>> Corrigan-Camden High School: Elisha Bell, principal
Corpus Christi ISD: D. Scott Elliff, superintendent
>> Blanche Moore Elementary School: Janie Vela, principal
El Paso ISD: Dr. Lorenzo G. Garcia, superintendent
>> Coldwell Elementary School: Jason Yturralde, principal
Mount Pleasant ISD*: Freddy Wade, interim superintendent
>> Annie Sims Elementary School: Pam McCollum, principal
Richardson ISD: Dr. Kay E. Waggoner, superintendent
>> Westwood Junior High Math, Science, Leadership Magnet School: Troy Gray, principal
Sharyland ISD*: Scott B. Owings, superintendent
>> B. L. Gray Junior High School: Cynthia Wilson, principal
>> Sharyland North Junior High School: Leticia Leal, principal
Socorro ISD*: Dr. Xavier de la Torre, superintendent
>> Escontrias Elementary School: Dr. Magdalena Aguilar, principal
Stamford ISD*: Brad Lewis, superintendent
>> Oliver Elementary School: Susan Mueller, principal
The schools nominated for the High Performing Schools category are:
Dallas ISD: Dr. Michael Hinojosa, superintendent
>> Dallas Environmental Science Academy: Angela West, principal
>> Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School: Vivian Taylor, principal
>> Rosie Sorrells School of Education and Social Services: Tamela Horton, principal
>> School of Science and Engineering; Jovan Wells, principal
El Paso ISD: Dr. Lorenzo G. Garcia, superintendent
>> Silva Magnet School for Health Professions: Dr. Steven Lane, principal
Galveston ISD*:Larry Nichols, superintendent
>> Austin Middle School: Cathy Vanness, principal
Houston ISD: Dr. Terry B. Grier, superintendent
>> E. A. “Squatty” Lyons Elementary School: Cecilia Gonzales, principal
>> Eastwood Academy High School: Rolando Treviño, principal
>> Challenge Early College High School, Justin Fuentes, principal
La Porte ISD*: Lloyd W. Graham, superintendent
>> Lomax Elementary School: Vickie Gentile, principal
Nederland ISD*: Robert Madding, superintendent
>> Hillcrest Elementary School: Karen Noble, principal
Rising Star ISD*: Dr. Max Thompson, superintendent
>> Rising Star Elementary School: Barbara Long, principal
Spring Branch ISD: Dr. Duncan Klussmann, superintendent
>> Westchester Academy for International Studies: Dr. Natalie Blasingame, principal
YES Public Schools: Christopher Barbic, chief executive officer
>> YES Prep Southwest Campus: Christopher Claflin, school director
* Denotes that this is the first Blue Ribbon School nomination for the district.
