Wilson Elementary School Receives Coveted National Blue-Ribbon Schools Award

On September 23, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recognized Etta J. Wilson Elementary School as a National Blue Ribbon School - Exemplary High Performing School for 2020. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. “Congratulations to this year’s National Blue Ribbon School awardees,” said Secretary DeVos. “It’s a privilege to recognize the extraordinary work you do to meet students’ needs and prepare them for successful careers and meaningful lives.”

The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 38th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, with some schools winning multiple awards. Schools are eligible for nomination after five years. 

“We are very proud of the students, teachers, staff and administrators at Wilson who have worked tireless every day to ensure that our students are prepared for success,” said Dr. Dan Shelton, Superintendent of Christina. “This award is acknowledgement of the great things happening at Wilson specifically and Christina School District.”

The Education Department recognized 367 schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates: 

• Exemplary High Performing Schools – These are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. 
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools – These are among their state’s highest performing in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
  
  

For more information about the National Blue Ribbon Schools, visit https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/

Congratulations, Wilson Elementary!

At Etta J.Wilson Elementary our students are successful due to a multitude of factors. Our first priority is creating a safe, nurturing, and caring environment in which our students can thrive. We accomplish this through our school-wide Positive Behavior Support program. The PBS program has been highly effective in addressing the majority of our students needs through Tier 1 instruction. At Wilson, we have four school-wide expectations. The four PBS expectations at Wilson are to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Manage Yourself, and Follow Directions the first time. We spend the first few weeks of school, teaching these expectations in every classroom at our school. We teach the students what it looks like, sounds like and feels like when these expectations are followed. Students are recognized for their outstanding behavior monthly through grade level PBS reward celebrations. In addition, students are also recognized school-wide at our Quarterly Awards Ceremonies and with a Pizza with the Principal lunch.

We recognize that our students have varying levels of needs academically, socially and emotionally. At Wilson, we have developed a Targeted Intervention Committee that meets to discuss academic, behavioral and attendance concerns for students not responding to our Tier 1 PBS program. This targeted team is facilitated by our school counselor and consists of administration, teachers, the Educational Diagnostician, the Academic Dean and the Psychologist. This team works together to analyze data and to determine interventions designed to improve the students' educational experiences. The plans are implemented and monitored by the team. Adjustments are made to a student's plan if a student is not responding to the intervention. A few examples of our interventions include Check-In Check out, Mentoring, Social Skills Instruction and a Chill Zone in every classroom (Rest and Recovery). There is a strong data collection component to this work.

I am most proud of the teamwork and collaboration among the Wilson faculty and families. Wilson has a strong PTA and together, we provide extracurricular opportunities for our students. Wilson is also a No Place for Hate School. Being a No Place for Hate school enables us to challenge antisemitism, racism and bigotry in all forms. Finally, Wilson would not have received this recognition without the amazing, talented and dedicated teachers. Wilson teachers work tirelessly during Professional Learning Communities, lesson planning and analyzing data, to provide the best instruction possible in order for their students to succeed at the highest levels possible. At Wilson, we truly have a team approach to teaching and learning.