By Michael V. Hannigan
Malakoff Elementary School was awarded Blue Ribbon honors by the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday. MES was one of only 25 schools in Texas (332 nationally) to earn the recognition.
Founded in 1982, Blue Ribbon Schools is a U.S. Department of Education program that recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels.
“National Blue Ribbon recognition for these campuses is well deserved and reflects the hard work of teachers and students in our communities,” said Commissioner of Education Michael Williams. “It is also indicative of the strong education efforts taking place in classrooms throughout our state.”
The schools were nominated in early 2015.
“Many people likely heard and read about the nomination last February of MES as a Blue Ribbon campus,” said Malakoff Elementary School Principal Ronny Snow. “Many may have thought that was the end of the Blue Ribbon process, but that was actually just the beginning of an extensive application process that also included results from the past year’s testing to make a final determination of eligibility.”
All schools that were nominated for the 2015 honor were selected as exemplary high performing schools as measured by state assessments or national tests. Each school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or greater.
“It is an honor to have met all that criteria to be able to go from nominee to an actual Blue Ribbon Campus,” said Snow. “The award goes to the hard working staff of MES and their determination to accept nothing but the best from their students. This is not always easy and leads to many bumps in the road. That road has led MES to the pinnacle of recognition in education.”
Snow also congratulated the students, saying, “This award also goes to the many students who have been here the past six years and have reached for excellence and succeeded. I am proud to have been along for the ride with all of them It is truly an accomplishment that all who were involved with will always remember.”
In an email announcing the Blue Ribbon honor, Malakoff ISD Superintendent Randy Perry wrote, “Malakoff ISD wants to congratulate the teachers and staff at Malakoff Elementary along with their Principal, Mr. Ronny Snow, for this distinction.”