Finger Lake and Willow Elementary named National ESEA Distinguished Schools

WASILLA— Finger Lake and Willow Elementary schools were recently selected as the two Alaskan National ESEA Distinguished Schools for 2018. Both schools qualified thanks to their exceptional academic achievements in their respective areas.

“These were the only two schools awarded in Alaska this year and both in the Mat-Su,” Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Public Information Officer Jillian Morrissey said in a press release issued by the district.

Only two schools per state can qualify per year in the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished Schools Program. According to the press release, the program was formerly known as the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program. This program is an annual effort of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators that publicly recognizes schools for their positive educational services.

Selected schools must qualify under one of the following three categories: Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years; Closing the achievement gap between student groups; or Excellence in serving special populations of students.

Finger Lake Elementary qualified under the third category for significant improvement in their special populations of students which include low income, homeless, migrant and English learners. Principal Susan Steele and instructional coach Marcy Farris both said they were very excited about being one of the two schools in the state to be recognized.

Nearly 50 percent of Finger Lake’s students receive free or reduced meals, according to Steele. She said ESEA recognition has been a great way to boost morale and affirm all the hard work staff and students have invested.

“It was nice to be able to honor the teachers for the work that they’re doing,” Steele said.

Steele said that another point of pride comes from their overall student enrollment growth. She said that they’ve gone from about 250 to 450 students since 2014, the same year they became a Title 1 school.

Farris said that Title 1 funding helps them with resources like Chromebooks and tutors as well as a spectrum of family participation activities like Bingo for Books.

“We have very supportive families here at Finger Lake,” Farris said.

Finger Lake is part of the third covert of schools to be trained as Trauma Informed Schools in the MSBSD. Steele said that they’re currently in the middle of organizational self-assessment and progress monitoring. Farris has been at the school for 20 years and said that being trauma informed will help staff better meets the ever changing and individualized needs of each student.

“It’s just another reminder of how important relationships are with kiddos. We have a very caring staff but sometimes you forget what the little people are dealing with on a day to day basis, just to be reminded of that is a good thing,” Farris said.

Steele said that since their training in November, they’ve started implementing different types of “brain breaks.” These brain breaks are essentially various mindfulness and calming techniques utilized with children. These can be things like be breathing techniques or movement exercises. Steele said that during their regular staff huddles, faculty members share techniques that they’ve learned and found effective so others can implement them out in their own classrooms.

“Susan’s established a way for everyone in the building to have a voice,” Farris said.

Willow Elementary qualified under the first category for its exceptional student performance two years in a row. It’s also in the third covert of MSBSD Trauma Informed Schools. Principal Jennifer Rinaldi said that they were recognized through statewide testing called PEAK (Purposeful Engagement, Assessing Knowledge).

Rinaldi said that Willow is a small school with 166 students from preschool to fifth grade. She said this small student body has an advantage because it makes it easier to connect to each student.

“We know every kid by name,” Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi said that every adult that works in the building, from teaching assistants to custodians all work hard and leave a positive impact on their students.

“The caring and committed adults have contributed to the success of our students… I think positive recognition always boosts morale but we’re always going to continue to do great work for the kids of Willow… we’re doing great things and it’s great to be recognized for doing great things with the kids,” Rinaldi said.

Both principals and some of their colleagues will venture down to Kansas City, Kansas, for the ESEA conference Jan. 30 through Feb. 2. They will engage in various workshops and other activities on top of receiving their awards.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com