A local elementary school received a national honor recently, when West Elementary School was named as a United States Blue Ribbon School by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
“I’m incredibly proud of our faculty, staff and students at West Elementary for being recognized,” Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jan Harris said.
West Elementary School is among five schools recognized in Alabama, and among 314 schools in the nation to receive the designation this year.
To be designated a Blue Ribbon School, West Elementary was high performing and placed in the top 10 percent of schools in the state on state assessments of reading (or English language arts) and mathematics.
“They have made such important strides academically,” Harris said.
West Elementary School Principal Dr. Elton Bouldin said he was proud to receive the award.
“Speaking on behalf of the West Elementary faculty and families, we wish to express our appreciation to the United States Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Education for the 2009 Blue Ribbon School accolade,” he said. “Likewise, national recognition for superior academic achievement, acknowledges the efforts of our students, our families, the Cullman City Board of Education, the Cullman City Council and our community partners. It is our honor to, in part; represent the results of their investment of both time and resources. Their unwavering commitment to public education allows us to provide a exemplary elementary school experience for all children.”
Bouldin said the efforts made by school faculty and officials are a major reason the school was named as a Blue Ribbon School.
“Between 2003 and today’s announcement many West Elementary faculty members made this designation a reality with an unfailing commitment that our students would experience success,” he said. “Because I see on a daily basis the faculty’s extraordinary pursuit of student success, it is very gratifying to see their efforts acknowledged in such a prestigious manner. Over the years, our teachers and staff have demonstrated that working together and holding high expectations, seasoned with patience and grace, is a great recipe for student achievement.”
‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at , or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.
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West Elementary receives honor
Named as a Blue Ribbon School
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