December 18, 2014

 

LAWT News Service 

 

In recognition of winning the 2014 National Blue Ribbon School Award, Compton Unified School District’s (CUSD) Jefferson and Tibby elementary schools were honored, Tuesday, December 9, at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.

 

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (2nd District) presented both schools with honorary scrolls to commemorate their achievements. Special guests included Jefferson and Tibby’s principals, staff, and students, as well as Superintendent Darin Brawley. 

 

Last month the U.S. Department of Education recognized the two Compton schools with the National Blue Ribbon designation as well as Jefferson Principal Marcos, who was one of eight principals in the country to win the Terrel H. Bell Award. Both schools are also 2014 California Distinguished Schools and 2014 Title I Academic Achieve­ment Award winners. Tibby has also won the California School Board Association’s (CSBA) 2014 Golden Bell Award in the category of English/language arts/reading.

 

Tibby sixth-grader Tiara Taylor received a standing ovation after reading her rousing poem celebrating her school’s national honor. She said that although she was nervous about speaking before “so many grown ups,” her experience public speaking as part of her school’s OG Junior Debate Team supplied her with confidence.

 

“At first I was a little nervous because there were a lot of people, but once I got into the poem it just started to flow. Reading is part of my nature. I love to read and articulate,” she said. Taylor added that it was an honor to represent her school before the LA County Board of Supervisors. “My school is my second home. It’s my second family. It’s because of them that I’m one of their most high achieving scholars.”

 

Principal Ontrece Ellerbe said Tibby’s students, staff, and teachers are excited to be recognized for their hard work, especially at the county level.

 

“Attending the LA County Board of Supervisors’ meeting as honored guests is an experience that we will not soon forget. Being recognized in such a distinguished way was a great opportunity for our scholars to realize they are part of a larger community that is extremely proud of them and of their accomplishments,” she said. “It means a lot for our students and our staff to know that Los Angeles County is celebrating this achievement with us.”

 

For Jefferson Principal Mario Marcos and his school’s community, recognition from the LA County Board of Supervisors is further validation for their continuous efforts to help all students succeed. “We are so proud of the work we’ve done together as a team. That is why it means so much to us to see local leaders take notice of our amazing teachers and staff, and our incredible students,” he said.

Category: Education