RECOGNITION
24 MOMENTUM
TROYLON GRIFFIN II Chamber Writer League City Regional Chamber of Commerce
CALDER ROAD ELEMENTARY
RECEIVES HISTORIC HONORS FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
As one of League City ’ s most well known elementary schools , Calder Road Elementary is no stranger to recognition . This year has witnessed the local elementary school gain two remarkable honors .
Calder Road Elementary was recently named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education , making it the first school in Dickinson ISD to receive such an honor .
Calder Road was one of only 26 schools in Texas ( and 325 schools across the United States ) selected for this year ’ s National Blue Ribbon School honor . The National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private elementary , middle and high schools that have high student achievement . The award also highlights schools ’ exemplary progress in closing achievement gaps among student subpopulations . Since the program ’ s founding , 9,000 schools across the nation have received this honor .
Calder Road in particular is being recognized as an Exemplary Achievement
Gap-Closing School for being among the state ’ s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school ’ s student groups and all students .
“ We are extremely proud of Calder Road Elementary for being nominated by Governor Abbott for this prestigious award and being selected by the USDE as
a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School ,” said Dickinson ISD Superintendent Carla Voelkel . Texas public schools are considered for the nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous year ’ s STAAR assessments . This would refer to the Spring 2019 STAAR assessment since the 2020 administration was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Each school must have an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more , which Calder Road surpasses with 57 percent of the student population identified as economically disadvantaged .
“ Being named a National Blue Ribbon School is a validation of everything that happens on this campus – every day and every minute ,” said Principal Sophia Acevedo . “ The success of Calder Road is 100 percent , driven by the staff . They make magic happen every day and that impacts our culture . Calder Road ’ s staff is a blue ribbon staff that works hard every day for kids . They are empowered to make decisions and changes as needed . They are innovative , and they are what makes Calder Road successful .”
Continuing Calder Road ’ s streak of recognition , the United States Department of Education named Sophia a 2021 recipient of the Terrel H . Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership .
This special award is named in memory of former United States Secretary of Education Terrel H . Bell , and it is presented to only eight principals across the United States . The award recognizes outstanding school leaders and the vital role they play in guiding students and schools to excellence . The principals receiving this award are committed to fostering successful teaching and learning at their schools and do “ whatever it takes ” to help their students meet high standards .
The award ceremonies for Calder Road and Sophia Acevedo will be November 4 and 5 in Washington D . C .