Fox Chapel Area School District representatives accepted Kerr Elementary’s designation as a Title I Distinguished School at a reception hosted by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education on January 27 at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. From left to right are: Brian Campbell, director of
the Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction at the Department of Education; Dan DiDesiderio, Ed.D., Fox Chapel Area School District director
of student achievement and instructional verification; Paul Noro, Ed.D., Kerr Elementary principal; Jackie Koziatek, Kerr reading specialist; Erin Wharton,
Kerr fourth grade teacher; Tracy Santoro, Kerr reading specialist; David McCommons, Ed.D., Fox Chapel Area School District deputy superintendent; and
Susan McCrone, the Department of Education Division of Federal Programs chief.
KERR ELEMENTARY NAMED TITLE I
DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL
K
err Elementary School has been named a
Pennsylvania Department of Education Title
I Distinguished School for the 2019-2020
school year. The designation is based on Kerr
Elementary state assessment results from the 2017-2018
and 2018-2019 school years.
According to the Department of Education, there are two
categories of Title I Distinguished Schools. Category 1
includes schools that were in the top 5% in achievement in
the two most recently completed academic years or schools
that were in the top 5% for growth in the two most recently
completed academic years; and Category 2 encompasses
schools that made the greatest gains in achievement in the All
Students Group.
The Title I Distinguished School recognition is the result of
the dedicated efforts of the entire Kerr school community,
says Principal Paul Noro, Ed.D.
“We have attained this distinction because we focus on a
whole school approach,” says Dr. Noro. “I commend the
efforts of the students, parents, teachers, support staff, and
community. We take a holistic approach, and everyone works
together for the benefit of our students.”
Kerr PTO President Amy Cooper echoes those sentiments,
saying the award is the result of the academic performance
10
FOX CHAPEL AREA
and achievements of the Kerr students and the hard work of
school staff.
“The diligence of our Kerr teachers to identify student needs
and take a team approach to foster student success is why
Kerr deserves this recognition as a Title I Distinguished
School,” Mrs. Cooper says. “I see teamwork every time I’m at
Kerr. Our instructional aides and support teachers also play a
big role in the success of our students. Our Kerr leadership
creates an environment that allows our students to have this
level of growth and academic achievement.”
Kerr Elementary is one of 94 schools to receive the
designation in Pennsylvania out of a total of approximately
1,800 schools who use Title I funds to support educational
programs.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education,
Title I is a 100% federally funded supplemental education
program that provides financial assistance to schools
to improve educational opportunities. Title I programs
are designed to help children meet the state content and
performance standards in reading, language arts, and
mathematics.