Skyline Elementary School has earned the label “Great School” for its student improvement in reading and math. Skyline will be honored as one of 55 elementary schools, 25 middle schools and junior high schools, and 24 high schools in the top 5 percent of schools showing the most improvement in student achievement in Washington.
The 104 schools will be recognized as 2009 Great Schools for sustained improvement as measured by seven years of WASL test scores at a Schools of Distinction luncheon on Sept. 26, at the City University of Seattle’s Renton campus during the Great Schools and Exemplary Leaders Institute. The Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK)-Washington state, in collaboration with the Center for Educational Effectiveness, is in charge of the Great Schools Awards program. All schools met the Schools of Distinction performance criteria for the 2008-09 school year.
For 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years, this recognition was known as the “State Superintendent’s Schools of Distinction–Learning Improvement Awards.” For 2009, sponsorship for this school-level, learning improvement award, now known as the “Great Schools Award” is through the Washington Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK-WA) and the Center for Educational Effectiveness. Skyline and Sherman elementary schools received the State Superintendent’s Schools of Distinction Award in 2008. Click here to learn about the methodology used to determine which schools would receive the award.
The Great Schools and Exemplary Leaders: Schools of Distinction—What Can We Learn Institute will begin at 9 a.m. with a keynote address by Dr. Gene Sharratt, Washington State University, with Greg Lobdell and Sue Mills of the Center for Educational Effectiveness. Skyline Principal Sally Sundberg and staff members will be presenting during morning workshop sessions.
At 1:45 p.m., Superintendent Art Jarvis will be on a panel of district and schools leaders from award-winning schools who will discuss “Education Reform—We are making a difference.” These Washington educational leaders are leading significant reform initiative impacting classroom practice and student learning.
If you wish to attend the institute, visit the Web site at www.pdkwa.org/Fall_Institute_2009/ to register. Click here for institute information. If you have questions contact: Committee chairs: Karen Fynboe kfynboe@Tacoma.k12.wa.us; Dr. Mary Lynne Derrington at marylynne.derrington@wwu.edu or Dr. John Armenia, 253.208.6248 or 425.868.4282, or d4success@comcast.net.
For more information on PDK-WA, click here to see a recent newsletter.
Skyline Elementary School teachers and support staff learned they had earned a 2009 Great Schools Award at a morning staff meeting on Sept. 18. Deputy Superintendent Carla Santorno handed a rose to each staff member as he or she received a poem certificate honoring their hard work to improve student success from Principal Sally Sundberg. Directors Karyn Clarke and Don Lloyd helped hand out during the celebration.