{"id":6025,"date":"2020-01-08T16:04:44","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T01:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/?p=6025"},"modified":"2020-01-08T16:04:44","modified_gmt":"2020-01-09T01:04:44","slug":"tustumena-elementary-is-recognized-as-a-2019-national-esea-distinguished-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2020\/01\/08\/tustumena-elementary-is-recognized-as-a-2019-national-esea-distinguished-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Tustumena Elementary is Recognized as a 2019 National ESEA Distinguished School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Join the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to celebrate Tustumena Elementary educators, students, and families! One hundred schools nationwide earned recognition as a National ESEA Distinguished School in 2019, and Tustumena Elementary School is recognized in the category of <\/strong>exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years<\/strong><\/em>!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n

In the small coastal area of Kasilof, Alaska, Principal Doug Hayman\noften refers to Tustumena Elementary School as Camelot. With a population of 549\n(2010), a post office, mercantile, gas station, church, and school tucked along\nthe aquamarine Kasilof River flowing to Cook Inlet, the staff and 145 students\nand their families make the school the place to gather, connect, and learn. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cRelationships between the teachers and the parents at Tustumena Elementary is strong, and by working together to promote this strong bond, we have developed an atmosphere that leads to success. Tustumena has always provided the best education possible. In order to do this, we have worked to keep class sizes down, meet the needs of all students, and draw the best teachers available. The test scores in recent years have shown that all of these factors and more have helped Tustumena become an extremely successful school. Data driven decision-making has been an important part of our overall school planning. Regular Benchmark testing fuels our Intervention process. Beginning with the first I-Team Day and ending with the last day of school, the Intervention and Special Education programs are key to assuring that all students are getting their individual instructional needs met.\u201d<\/em><\/p> Principal Doug Hayman <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Tustumena Elementary School and Evergreen Elementary School in the Wrangell School District were the two Alaska schools named National ESEA Distinguished Schools by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an honor to recognize these two outstanding schools in our state. Both Tustumena Elementary and Evergreen Elementary have demonstrated effective strategies to ensure student success. I am proud to congratulate the educators, students, and families of these communities on the recognition of their hard work and dedication to Alaska\u2019s students.\u201d  <\/em><\/p>Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Commissioner Johnson <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Alaska identifies eligible schools for the award based on their students\u2019 performance on the Performance Evaluation for Alaska\u2019s Schools (PEAKS) assessment in English language arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Identified schools chose to apply for the honor, providing evidence of effectiveness in evidence-based instructional strategies; providing opportunities for all children to achieve; coordination of Title I with other programs; professional development of staff; and partnerships with parents, families, and communities. <\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cThe faculty at Tustumena has long been recognized in the community for the steadfast dedication to students and their families. It is exciting to see them being recognized at the state and national level for the academic outcomes resulting from that dedication. To be recognized as having high student performance for two or more years is especially impressive because the PEAKS assessment has undergone some changes. While other schools in the state have grappled with declining student performance due to the academically challenging standards we have here in Alaska, it is worthy of celebrating that students in the KPBSD, and at Tustumena Elementary, especially, are doing so well as they advance toward the opportunities their futures will hold!\u201d <\/em><\/p> Dr. Christine Ermold, KPBSD Director of Federal Programs and Professional Development <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n