“A lot of hard work from the staff.” Fronteras Immersion School named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, including the Fronteras Spanish Immersion School in Wasilla.

“I am just so super excited about this, and it’s a result of a lot of hard work from the staff,” says Principal Jennifer Schmidt-Hutchins of the recognition.

“I am most proud of our students. Not only are the students learning, which can be difficult, but they are learning in two languages, and this just shows how hard everyone is working.”

Fronteras is a Spanish Immersion K-8 school that immerses students each day in Spanish, giving them meaningful and creative academic and social explorations and making the goal of acquiring a second language profoundly important.

The Blue Ribbon recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments.

“Immersing and surrounding the students in Spanish just adds a fun twist to everything,” said Schmidt-Hutchins.

Two other Alaska schools were also named as National Blue Ribbon Schools, including Bear Valley Elementary School in Anchorage and Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary School in Sitka.

“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to ‘Raise the Bar’ in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. As the Biden-Harris Administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students, and engaging families.”

The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for and attaining exemplary achievement.

“We have such a wonderful network of parents, and I’m so proud of them staying strong, and just an incredible, dedicated crew, from the custodians all the way up. The teachers work so hard, and we have great support from the community,” says the very proud principal.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

Nominated schools also complete an extensive narrative application describing their school culture and philosophy, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership structures, and parent and community involvement.

National Blue Ribbon Schools is the United States Department of Education award program honoring high-performing schools and schools that are making great strides in closing any achievement gaps between students.

Fronteras Immersion School uses the partnership of parents, community resources, technology, skilled instructors, service, and stimulating curriculum to realize high academic success, language acquisition, critical thinking, good citizenship, and the development of healthy, global minded individuals.

“It takes everybody wanting to succeed every day, and we’re doing that.”