NCUST Awards Stephens Elementary School With Gold, Anderson Academy Earns Bronze for Excellence

The Center recognizes schools that prove to be institutions of learning that change children’s lives.

Stephens Elementary School — Principal Raymond Stubblefield (center) and AP Joyce Evans (with scarf) pose with the $5,000 award the campus received. Staff members (l-r) David Niedzwieck, Mary Crismon, Alba Escobar, Brenna Dorgan, and Lauren Syrinek also attended the event in Dallas.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]National Center for Urban Education honored 24 schools from across the country. The Center bestowed each with Excellence in Urban Education Awards. Texas led the way with 15 schools considered to be among the nation’s highest performing schools. Of these, two campuses from Aldine ISD garnered awards. [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Stephens Elementary School was among the four schools in the country named Gold winners. The Center known as NCUST named [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Anderson Academy (a magnet school) and eight other schools from the state Bronze winners.

The schools received their awards during the 2015 National Excellence in Urban Education Symposium. The event took place May 20-22 in Dallas.

At the symposium, NCUST spotlights the nation’s top schools that achieve exceptional academic results. NCUST not only rewards outstanding schools but it also studies their successes. According to Dr. Joseph F. Johnson Jr., high-performing schools have support systems that address students’ needs. These schools promptly give students the extra help they need. Educators provide efficient and effective interventions. Johnson serves as the program director of NCUST.

“High-performing schools have strong systems of support,” said Johnson. “They design systems that ensure students will be successful,” Johnson said. “These schools have three elements key to their success. First, they identify students early to address their needs. Second, teachers and other professionals work together. And third, educators track the systems of support meticulously.”

Elements of Success

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Educators identify students early to ensure they get the support they need.[/li] [li]Teachers and other professionals work together to coordinate support to best address needs. They also use data to make informed decisions about intervention.[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Educators meticulously track the systems of support to see if these are working. If these are not working, they improve or change the intervention to meets students’ needs.[/li][/ul]

NCUST presents the Award annually to the highest performing urban schools. NCUST awards elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and alternative schools. To compete for the Award, schools must meet or exceed certain criteria. Finalists are then selected with the winner named during the symposium.

The prestigious award recognizes schools that:

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Have achieved high levels of academic success among every student group[/li] [li]Maintain high attendance levels[/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Show excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects[/li] [li]Are not using selective enrollment[/li][/ul]

The is not the first time that NCUST has recognized Stephens Elementary School. The campus and Hambrick Middle School [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]won the award in 2010. NCUST named MacArthur High School a Gold winner in [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]2013 and in 2008. Aldine Ninth Grade School and Stehlik Intermediate School earned Silver recognition in 2013. That same year, NCUST named Aldine High School and Mendel Elementary School Bronze award winners.

NCUST started in 2005 at San Diego State University. The Center established the Award Program to identify the nation’s most successful urban schools. It was also a strategy to begin to study how the campuses found success. NCUST awarded the first five schools in May 2006.

The Center today continues to identify and share the lessons learned from the nation’s best urban schools. NCUST works to engage and work with districts determined to establish outstanding urban schools.