Industrial ISD celebrated their Junior High Campus for being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Campus at the regular called School Board meeting on Monday March 10. State Board of Education Member for District 2, LJ Francis attended the meeting to take part in the recognition.
Founded in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ academic achievement. A National Blue Ribbon Schools flag overhead has become a mark of excellence in education recognized by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities.
While awardee schools represent the diverse fabric of American schools, they also share some core elements. National Blue Ribbon School leaders articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards. They demonstrate effective and innovative teaching and learning, and the schools value and support teachers and staff through meaningful professional learning.
Data from many sources are used to drive instruction and every student strives for success. Families, communities, and educators work together toward common goals.
National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective and innovative school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation.
Industrial Elementary East also received this recognition for the 22-23 school year. This makes two years in a row that Industrial has sent representatives to Washington DC to take part in the awards ceremony held there.
In previous years, this recognition was only given for either high performance, or for significant improvements in student academic achievement. This year, schools were allowed to receive recognition in both areas if it was earned.
Industrial Jr. High is one of only two schools in the state who earned recognition for both areas.
Mr. Francis also surprised some veteran teachers from the Junior High with the opportunity to showcase pride in their profession by paying for them to have custom license plates for their cars. These teachers were Jeana Yendrey, and Shelley Marek, who both have over 20 years of service with Industrial ISD.
Another opportunity was given to the district by Mr. Francis. Through a partnership he has with Ramsey Education, a supplemental curriculum license was awarded to the high school. The curriculum donation includes a digital site license, fully digital and turnkey curriculum that auto-grades and integrates with the major SSOs.
The donation also includes a teacher training/ professional development course, as well as yearround customer support. Moreover, because the curriculum is modular based, it can be used to support a standalone personal finance course or as supplemental content.
Finally, the curriculum aligns with the standards that have been set by the State of Texas. This curriculum will be implemented in the High School Economics class that will help teach personal financial literacy to the Seniors who take this course.
