'Distinguished Schools' saluted

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Associate Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Frazier (second from left) posed with “Distinguished Schools” representatives (from left) Margaret Gallegos — Thorner School, Sandra West — Downtown Elementary, Bill Jager — Columbia Elementary and Delani Bair — Stockdale School.

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Thorner School Principal Margaret Gallegos shared what her school did to achieve Distinguished School status with members of the Kern County Curriculum Advisory Committe, her supervisor, Bakersfield City School District Superintendent Michael Lingo and Downtown Elementary School Principal Sandra West.

School may be out for summer, but the accolades have not stopped for Columbia Elementary, Downtown Elementary, Stockdale and Thorner schools since being honored by the California Department of Education as ‘Distinguished Schools’ on May 16.  On June 4 the Kern County Curriculum Advisory Committee let the four schools know how much their efforts to provide quality education to students was appreciated locally. Each was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools at the group’s monthly meeting at University Square in Bakersfield.  

Representing the superintendent, Associate Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Frazier presented the school principals and their district superintendents with the awards. She also took the time to compliment each on their commendable service to the students of Kern County.

“Thanks so much for representing all of us because you epitomize what we in education in Kern County are striving to achieve,” Frazier said. “Others will look to you as examples of what we can accomplish in all 47 of our county school districts. We thank you for being our messengers.”

Downtown and Thorner from the Bakersfield City School District, Columbia representing Fruitvale School District and Stockdale from Panama-Buena Vista Union School District were four of the 342 California public elementary schools honored by CDE. A total of 839 California elementary schools submitted applications and were identified as eligible based on their Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress results. Applications underwent an intensive evaluation process conducted by
CDE in partnership with the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, and with the help of many local educators from across the state. Finally, all nominated schools were reviewed during a site evaluation conducted by a team of external educators. The schools were evaluated by teams of local educators under the direction of CDE, and those schools judged to be exemplary were visited by an outside review team to validate the application information.

Columbia Elementary Principal Bill Jager noted he was extremely proud that this was the third time the school had received Distinguished School recognition during his tenure. The other years of recognition included 1997 and 2002.

“We are very proud to receive this award for a third time, and I think the reason we are successful is because we are very specific about what our children should be achieving,” Jager said. “We hope what makes us distinct, I think, is how we embrace culture. Our school motto is ‘Hands-Hearts-Minds’ which encompasses working together, involving community and utilizing the special talents of our students. Our philosophy is to create citizens who will be a responsive electorate.”

Bakersfield City School District honorees Downtown Elementary and Thorner School share five Distinguished School awards between them. Thorner received the honor in 2000, 2004 and again this year. Downtown Elementary won previously in 2004.

“One of the reasons we are successful is because of the work done by our paraprofessional aides,” said Thorner Principal Margaret Gallegos. “They teach to very special standards where each child has a prescription that is going to work specifically for them. Another aspect of our education of which I am very proud is our emphasis on science and social studies where we place a high emphasis on vocabulary. As a result, our vocabulary and comprehension scores have increased.”

Downtown Elementary Principal Sandra West is retiring this summer, and the award was an especially gratifying way for her to end a 20-year career in education.

“We are in a fishbowl being downtown — which means everybody sees us and what we are doing,” West said. “Our school was created to meet the needs of working in the downtown business corridor. We started as a K (kindergarten)-3 school and now we cover grades K-8. There is mixed diversity in our student body which is 43 percent Hispanic and 8 percent African-American. Our API score of 862 is the seventh highest in Kern County. We are succeeding because our parents our very supportive. They are giving and responsive, and their help in intervention team meetings is incalculable.”

Stockdale School first and second grade teacher Delani Bair, who helped write the Distinguished School report that was submitted to CDE, accepted the certificate on behalf of her school.

“Our school has existed for 30 years and our demographics have changed significantly during that time,” Bair said. “Despite the fact we won this award in 1997 and 2000, we knew we couldn’t sit back on what we did before. A unique collaboration between the school, parents and the community helped us realize that things happen because you are willing to take a chance to broaden capabilities. One program we are particularly proud of is called ‘Book Buddies.’ Tuesday and Thursday mornings, children are dropped off early so that intermediate level students can work with primary pupils tutoring them to read. They take their responsibilities real seriously as they realize they are increasing the younger children’s reading skills.”

The Kern County Curriculum Advisory Committee is comprised of administrators from the county’s school districts.


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