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It's
not a Nobel Prize, an Oscar or a Pulitzer. But for the
winners of UW Tacoma's annual "School of the Year"
award, it's worth more than any other.
Puyallup's
Chief Leschi School is a phenomenal success story, an
example of school reform at its best. So when UW Tacoma's
Education Program announced that Chief Leschi had earned
its School of the Year award, school leaders chose to
savor the moment as a symbol of a year of astonishing
accomplishments.
"The
principal and teachers at Chief Leschi have involved
all of the students in the major goal of raising their
WASL scores, so being recognized for their success was
a huge deal for them," said Ginger MacDonald, director
of the Education Program.
The
K-12 tribal school invited MacDonald to a special assembly
Nov. 22, bringing students and teachers together with
family and members of the community to celebrate the
award. And even though the actual award — and
the $2,000 prize money that comes with it — won't
be presented until February, Chief Leschi was ready
to mark the occasion with heartfelt festivities.
Students
and staff danced, sang, played drums and read poetry
in honor of their award, which recognized the school
for marked increases in Washington Assessment of Student
Learning scores and improvements in student behavior
over the last several years.
"It's
great to see these kids so proud of their school,"
MacDonald said.
Five
years ago, Chief Leschi was performing so poorly in
statewide academic testing that it was in danger of
being closed. Through commitment, teamwork and dedication,
Chief Leschi has been transformed into the state's top-performing
Native American School.
Some
of the school's success can be credited to UW Tacoma:
secondary school Principal Lucy Dafoe, Assistant Principal
Jennifer Pierce and several teachers at Chief Leschi
are graduates of the UWT Education Program.
UW
Tacoma will officially honor Chief Leschi, along with
Teacher of the Year Cynthia Stewart of Truman Middle
School and Principal of the Year Cindy Johnson of Stanley
Elementary School, at a banquet Friday, Feb. 9, in the
Roof Garden Ballroom at the Landmark Convention Center.
For more information, contact the Education Program
at (253) 692-4430.
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