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The North Crowley ninth-grade campus was recently named the recipient of a prestigious national award that pushed the school into the limelight — or, more accurately, the blue light.
The school was one of 12 institutions in the U.S. to receive the National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School of Excellence Award this year, and it was the only school in Texas to do so.
Like the other schools recognized, the school was selected based on an in-depth assessment that examined nine characteristics, including curriculum, technology integration and leadership vitality.
“Blue Ribbon Lighthouse schools serve as a beacon of exemplary achievements and contributions to ensure successful educational experiences for all children by shining a positive light on America’s best schools and programs that work,” according to a press release from Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Inc., a South Carolina-based company.
Having lived in the Carolinas before moving to Crowley, Principal Nita L. Page was familiar with Blue Ribbon and eager to help her school strive toward the coveted award.
“My work ethic is putting students first, and I saw an opportunity for this school to be recognized,” Page said.
In April 2007, Bart Teal, president and founder of Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Inc., visited the campus and began surveying students, teachers and parents to obtain their honest opinions on the school, said Donna Tucker, an English teacher at the school.
The school immediately qualified in three of the nine categories on which the schools are judged, said Tucker, who was chosen to lead a committee to mold the school into a blue-ribbon winner.
“We documented and improved areas we needed to improve on,” said Tucker. “We improved our technology; we improved our Web site. We filled in the gaps in the remaining six areas.”
Still, Tucker said meeting the award’s requirements in three categories immediately was quite a feat as most schools only qualify in one category on first examination.
To improve the school, committee members worked with staff, faculty, parents and, of course, students to create the best possible learning environment, she said.
“It’s a collaborative effort,” said Page. “The parents had input; the students had input.”
After months of work, the school’s administration submitted a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse application to Teal and patiently awaited feedback.
“Because it’s such an arduous process, not a lot of schools take it on,” Tucker said of applying for the award. “We do a lot of surveys; we’re constantly surveying students.”
In October, the school was selected as an award recipient, and in December, a small group of Crowley educators who led the effort visited North Charleston, S.C., to speak before their peers. Of the 12 award recipients from across the nation, only two, including Crowley, were selected to speak.
“I just think it’s great,” said campus secretary Robbie Thornton. “It shows that the faculty and staff are here for the students and doing everything possible to make them successful.”
Faculty assistant Norma Washington said the school could never have earned the award without the dedication of the students.
The school will be considered a Blue Ribbon School for three years before being reassessed, said Tucker, who emphasized that although the school won the award, teachers, staff members and parents will continue to push for the best.
“It’s not a destination; it’s a journey,” Tucker said. “You really get to know the innovative teachers, the creative teachers ... It’s a very revealing process, and you see the school in a different light.”
Being designated a model school comes with responsibility, she said, because the school must work even harder to set a good example.
“It’s not about the award,” Page said. “It’s about recognizing everyone’s best efforts and continuous improvement.”
Student Saba Nafees said all the hard work has paid off, and she is sad she will only be at the campus for a single year.
“It’s extraordinary,” Nafees said. “I didn’t think I’d come across a school excelling in every department. I’m thankful to the principal and administration team for all the advantages they’ve given us.”
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