School picks up prestigious award in Texas
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Representatives from the Scott County School System and Burchfield Elementary School attended the National Title I Conference here last week to accept a prestigious national award for education achievement.
Burchfield, which was also in the news recently after the Tennessee Dept. of Education recognized the school for testing in the top 10% of the state, was one of 74 schools from across the nation honored at the event. The school was awarded a National Title I Distinguished School Award.
Schools receiving the award were selected based on a combination of academic achievement of students and the creative innovative programs that contribute to success, according to the National Association of State Title I Directors.
The selection process began last year, with the school being notified of its selection in late fall.
One other school in Tennessee — Centerview Elementary in Newport — was also awarded.
“This is a tremendous honor for the school to be recognized for their hard work and achievement with a national award,” Duane Limburg, Scott County Schools’ federal programs director, said.
Ten teachers from Burchfield made the trip to San Antonio along with Scott County Director of Schools Sharon Wilson, Burchfield Principal Randy Shelton, Supervisor of Instruction Linda Keeton and Limburg. Among the teachers in attendance were Mary Lyn Carson, Tonja Crabtree, Melanie Garrett, Mashailla Golden, Lavon Griffith, Kate King, Pearlie Lowe, Emily Norris, Michelle Stephens and John Watson.
“This award is a testament to the wonderful teachers, support staff, students, parents and grandparents that form our school community,” Shelton said.
In a Distinguished Schools Video prepared by the Title I Conference, Burchfield was identified as being a school that provides the “values, knowledge and skills for students to become valuable members in the community.”
Each year since 1996, Title I has honored a school in each state in two categories: One for “closing the achievement gap” between student groups and one for exceeding adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind Act for two or more years.
While the purpose of the trip was to accept the award, teachers also took in the historical side of San Antonio. Among the stops were several sites that tie in to the State of Tennessee’s educational social studies standards, such as the burial place of Davy Crockett at San Fernandez Cathedral and the San Antonio Spanish Missions National Park.