 | Eight schools validated as 2007-2008 Minnesota Schools of Excellence
10/8/2007 4:15 PM(St. Paul, MN, October 8, 2007)—Eight schools received validation as 2007-2008 Minnesota Schools of Excellence. The Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) developed this research-based program aligned with national standards in: leadership, vision, student learning, the culture of adult learning, data and decision-making, and community engagement. MESPA endorses schools whose principal, staff, students, and community -- working as a team -- demonstrate the desire to strengthen education by successfully undertaking the Minnesota School of Excellence program. This school improvement process is recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education; it involves a systematic program of self-study, development of a school improvement plan, and implementation of the plan based on demonstrated results.
“The School of Excellence Program takes schools on a meaningful analytical endeavor, engaging staff and community in purposeful conversations about their school,” stated Matt Dorschner, Minnesota School of Excellence Program chair. “It is the premier way to identify current strengths and areas needing improvement for a school. The reward of the analysis is two-fold. First, it takes measure of where a school is and reveals where it needs to go. Second, it creates a wonderful opportunity for communities to celebrate their school – and to connect to their role in the school’s accomplishments.”
The eight elementary schools endorsed as 2007-2008 Minnesota School of Excellence are: Murray County Central Elementary, Slayton (MCC ISD #2169), Sally Berg, principal; Burroughs Community School, Minneapolis (Special School District #1), Tim Cadotte, principal; Johnsville Elementary, Blaine (Anoka-Hennepin ISD #11), Pat Murray, principal; Oxbow Creek Elementary School, Champlin, (Anoka-Hennepin ISD #11), Rolf Carlsen, principal; Kimball Elementary, Kimball (Kimball ISD #739), Jonathan Clark, principal; Nyquist Elementary, Isle (Isle ISD #473), Michael Conner, principal; Red Lake County Central Elementary, Plummer (Plummer ISD #628), Randy Pederson, principal; Hiawatha Community, Minneapolis (Special School District #1), Rosalind Robbins, principal.
"The total commitment to excellence demonstrated by these award-winning schools is the very center of quality education in this state," said P. Fred Storti, MESPA executive director. “Elementary and middle level schools provide the foundation in meeting children’s educational needs -- and as instructional leaders, principals play an essential role in assuring that the foundation is a solid one.”
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