.
Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster this week commended more than 80 middle schools — including Onalaska and West Salem middle schools — for being named to the Association of Wisconsin School Administrator and Department of Public Instruction’s Exemplary Middle School list.
“Success in middle school builds on the foundation for success in high school and beyond,” Burmaster said in a press release. “The Exemplary Middle School recognition program lets us show support for schools that are preparing our students for future accomplishments.”
“Middle school is an important time for young adolescents, which is why connecting with students at this level is vitally important,” added Jim Lynch, AWSA executive director. “The exemplary middle schools recognized by this award have made that connection. We will be looking to these schools for their ‘best practices’ in making sure that all kids have an adult to whom they can turn for academic, social and emotional learning during the middle school years.”
For Onalaska Middle School Principal Roger Fruit, making the list was a real honor. “Of course we're thrilled,” he said. “Anytime you get something like this, it validates what you're trying to do.”
Onalaska Superintendent John Burnett said he believes the accolades for this award should be shared.
“From my perspective it involves so many things. It’s an honor, but it’s an honor that reflects on a lot of people,” Burnett said. “Something like this goes back to a process that doesn’t happen overnight — staff, students and parents are all responsible.”
This is the second year that AWSA and DPI have recognized the good work that Wisconsin middle schools are doing by announcing exemplary middle schools. The recognition program was instituted through AWSA’s Middle Level Commission.
A total of 307 middle schools were reviewed for the recognition program. The review identified middle schools with high growth in reading or math scores in the past school year; reading or math scores in the top 10 percent in the past year; or high growth in scores in reading or math for schools with a high population of students living in poverty. These schools were invited to apply for the Wisconsin Middle School of Excellence Award.
“One of the things that this was based on is high reading scores in the district. Literacy has always been a high priority here,” Burnett said.
“Our parents do an excellent job providing a literacy-rich environment and our staff members are committed to responsive education and doing their best to see that all children in school succeed,” he added.
Applications were rated based on collaborative leadership and professional learning communities; personalization and the school environment; and curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The 2008-09 awards will be presented at the AWSA Middle Level Commission Conference in Elkhart Lake on Feb. 19.
.
Advertisement 
