EDUCATION: Pennekamp named a Blue Ribbon school
by Mark McDermott
Pennekamp Elementary was named a Blue Ribbon School last week, by the United States Department of Education. Nationwide, only 325 schools were given the status, including 28 other schools in California.
Miguel Cordona, U.S. Secretary of Education, in his announcement, brought attention to the difficult circumstances schools faced during the last year.
“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” said Secretary Cardona. “I commend this school, and all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children.”
The national recognition is given to schools who most effectively foster a culture of learning for all students and are high performing in terms of state assessment scores. Particular attention is given to schools which close achievement gaps among all students of differing ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, or who have disabilities.
Pennekamp excelled in each of these areas. Over the past four years, the school made one of the most difficult leaps in all of education — from an already high performing school in which a high percentage of students met or exceeded state standards to a school in which most students exceeded standards. In the 2015-16 school year, 83 percent of Pennekamp students met or exceeded English Language Arts standards and 85 percent met or exceeded mathematics standards (including 58 percent and 53 percent, respectively, who exceeded standards). Last year, 90.98 percent of students met or exceeded ELA standards (including 67.84 exceeding) while 89 percent met or exceeded mathematics standards (63.53 percent exceeding).
Principal Sharon Witzansky, who took the helm at the school this year, said the recognition was earned by the entire Pennekamp community.
“We are honored to be recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School,” Witzansky said. “Our teachers, support, staff, students, parents, and community have a long history of creating an environment that fosters outstanding levels of student achievement and success.”
Witzansky directed particular praise to former Pennekamp principal Karina Gerger, whose four years at Pennekamp coincided with the closing gap in student achievement, and who made the application for Blue Ribbon status. Superintendent John Bowes said that MBUSD is fortunate in that Gerger is now principal at Mira Costa High School, and her successor is poised to continue Pennekamp’s upward trajectory.
“Congratulations to Dr. Gerger and the amazing staff, students and families that are part of the Pennekamp family on this well-deserved recognition,” says Dr. John Bowes, MBUSD Superintendent. “Dr. Gerger now leads Mira Costa High School and Pennekamp is in excellent hands with new principal Sharon Witzansky who we know will keep the momentum going.”
Gerger strengthened the school culture at Pennekamp through the institution of the “Every Dragon R.O.A.R.S.” motto. R.O.A.R.S. stands for Respectful, On Task, Accountable, Responsible, and Safe.
“We tied everything into that motto and really reinforced those positive behaviors,” Gerger said. “It took off. Students just wanted to do positive things, and wanted to work hard. And they were recognized for positive behavior.”
This ranged from teachers recognizing those behaviors in daily interactions with students — a practice which also carried over to students home life, where parents also reinforced R.O.A.R.S. behaviors — to much coveted R.O.A.R.S. recognition cards, which ended up on family refrigerators throughout the neighborhoods surrounding Pennekamp. Most crucially, however, this also resulted in improvements in student achievement, which resulted in the Blue Ribbon award.
“It comes down to data,” Gerger said. “We were recognized for closing achievement gaps. Our test scores increased each year. It was because the instructional practices we are using really differentiate our students. The other piece is just building the community.”
That community, Gerger said, was likewise inclusive. “That Pennekamp community — the saying, “It takes a village,” is really so true,” Gerger said. “The teachers, staff, students, the parents, and the larger community…It took everyone involved to make it happen.” ER