Hamilton Elementary Receives Award
Sierra Madre and Norma Coombs Receive Honorable Mention
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has announced that Alexander Hamilton Elementary School is the recipient of a 2008 California Distinguished School Award, which identifies and honors the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Hamilton was one of seven schools in PUSD that were eligible to compete for the statewide honor, and two PUSD candidates, Sierra Madre School and Norma Coombs Alternative School, received honorable mention from the selection committee.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell called Hamilton principal Sarah Rudchenko personally to convey the good news and congratulate the school for its achievements. "A spirit of teamwork and collaboration is at the heart of our school. Together, our committed teachers, dedicated staff members, and energetic parents unite to ensure a positive learning environment and success for all," Rudchenko said. "Many of our proudest achievements have been the direct result of this collaborative effort."
CDE panelists spoke highly of Hamilton’s application in their post-evaluation comments. "The application presented a view of a wonderful school that is so because of commitment from all members of the learning community to ensure academic success for all students in a safe and secure environment." Another evaluator said, "It is obvious that your school is making a difference in your community. Your commitment to academic excellence and progress towards closing the achievement gap for all your student is to be commended."
For the current year, 839 elementary schools submitted applications and were identified for eligibility on the basis of their Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress results. All applicants underwent a rigorous selection process conducted by the California Department of Education, with the help of many local educators from across the state, and in partnership with the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. Of those eligible to compete, 343 exemplary California public elementary schools from 189 districts in 39 counties were selected as 2008 California Distinguished Schools.
Hamilton also received a Distinguished Schools award in 1998, joining previous PUSD winners Andrew Jackson Elementary, Eugene Field Elementary, Grover Cleveland Elementary, Jefferson Primary and Longfellow Elementary. This year, the selection criteria for the Distinguished School program were more stringent than ever, according to the California Department of Education. Schools wrote a substantive
narrative application and then were subject to an extensive site validation.
"This award is a tribute to the hard work and commitment to excellence by administrators, teachers, parents and students at Hamilton Elementary School and the seven other schools who met the eligibility criteria for this award," said Edwin Diaz, PUSD Superintendent. "Through our continued focus on student achievement, professional development and parent and community engagement, PUSD schools will continue to raise the performance of every student we serve."
Hamilton Elementary School will be honored along with the other 2008 California Distinguished Schools during an awards ceremony and dinner at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 16.