DATE: Feb. 25, 2008
Tyler School recognized for academic excellence:
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In February, Tyler School received word that it had earned an Academic Excellence Award from the Illinois State Board of Education. The award is presented to PK-8 schools where 90 percent of students have met or exceeded state standards in both reading and math for at least three consecutive years. It was the only school in the Southland area to receive the award.
Tyler School, which educates about 600 children in grades 1-3, was notified earlier this month that it was one of 166 schools in the state to meet or exceed state standards in reading and math for three consecutive years. It was the only school in the south suburban area to receive the award.
“The Illinois State Board of Education congratulates you, your faculty and staff on your good work to sustain academic excellence in your school,” State Superintendent Christopher Koch wrote to Tyler Principal Deborah Moy. “We encourage you to make the most of this opportunity to celebrate your successes locally.”
This was the second consecutive year that Tyler, its teachers and its students have been honored with this award.
“It goes without saying that I think the entire staff at Tyler is exceptional,” said Moy, who was especially pleased by the most recent award because it follows the summer in which new boundaries were implemented in the district.
“Unless new to the district, the students assessed had educational foundations formed at not only Tyler but also Cherry Hill, Haines, and/or Nelson Prairie,” said Moy. “In these unique circumstances, the teachers from those buildings share in and should be honored by this recognition as well. Tyler’s additional challenge had been to develop the necessary comfort level and sense of security in the learning environment for the hundreds of new and blending students so that all of the students would continue to learn and grow in all areas.”
Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University compile a list of schools that achieve or maintain academic excellence.
Awards are distributed in three categories:
Just over 500 schools received the Spotlight School recognition while 607 schools received the Academic Improvement Award. Only 166 schools qualified for the Academic Excellence Award.
“Making the Illinois Honor Roll is an achievement that should be celebrated,” said Koch. “It represents the hard work that takes place in the classroom everyday.”
Moy, who is celebrating her 18th year with the district, attributes Tyler’s success to the educational team that has been developed at Tyler.
“The professionals are recognized for their strengths and those strengths are supported and enhanced by appropriate resources,” she said. “Encouragement and professional development opportunities are offered, and generally, a strong, caring parental foundation is present. In addition, there is a strong desire and effort from all of the team to strive for each student to be successful to his or her potential, academically and socially.”
For additional information about the Academic Excellence Award and Illinois Honor Roll, please visit www.isbe.net. A full list of award winners is available there.