Header

TEN SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED FOR HIGH ACHIEVEMENT

By: Hal Beaver | December 3, 2010, 4:58 pm

2011 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools Program Honors Diverse Set of Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reston, VA--November 23, 2010--Five middle level and five high schools are being recognized for their academic successes through the 2011 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools program. The schools will be honored at the 2011 NASSP Conference, which is being held in San Francisco, CA, February, 24-27, 2011.

Established in 2007, the MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools program recognizes middle level and high schools that are high achieving or are dramatically improving student achievement and serve large numbers of students living in poverty.

The leaders of these urban, rural, and suburban schools have proven that with leadership, time, and a clear focus, high-poverty schools can be turned around. Nine of the 2011 Breakthrough principals have been in their position for at least five years. Although “adequate yearly progress” can be an effective measure of success and growth, the call for principals to achieve AYP status within two years may not allow the same results that these turnaround principals have achieved.

“These 10 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools have made incredible gains in academic achievement by providing rigorous instruction and personalizing their schools to meet the needs of each and every student,” said NASSP Executive Director Gerald N. Tirozzi. “I applaud the schools for their focused efforts and the principals of these schools for their leadership. We look forward to featuring them as models of success in the coming year.”

“We are pleased to join NASSP in recognizing the important role of principal leadership in schools that have increased student achievement and in sharing the lessons learned," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation.”

The 2011 MetLife Foundation-NASSP Breakthrough Schools are:

High Schools

  • Amityville Memorial High School, Amityville, NY, Scott Andrews, Principal
  • B. F. Terry High School, Rosenberg, TX, Vera Wehring, Principal
  • Columbus Unified High School, Columbus, KS, Steven R. Jameson, Principal
  • North Brunswick High School, Leland, NC, Sheila Grady, Principal
  • Worcester Technical High School, Worcester, MA, Sheila M. Harrity, Principal

 

Middle Schools

  • Franklin Middle School, Champaign, IL, Angela Smith, Principal
  • Haymon-Morris Middle School, Winder, GA, Sheila Kahrs, Principal
  • M. O. Ramay Junior High School, Fayetteville, AR, Matt S. Saferite, Principal
  • Robert M. Finley Middle School, Glen Cove, NY, Anael Alston, Principal
  • Smokey Road Middle School, Newnan, GA, Laurie Barron, Principal

 

Selection criteria are based on a school’s documented success in implementing strategies that are aligned with the three core areas of NASSP’s Breaking Ranks framework for middle level and high schools. Success in implementing the strategies is documented and verified through school site visits. For more information about the program and the selected schools, visit www.principals.org/breakthrough.

About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation supports education, health, civic, and cultural organizations. In education, it seeks to strengthen public schools through effective teaching and leadership, and to prepare students for access to and success in higher education, particularly the crucial first year. The Foundation’s grantmaking is informed by findings from the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. For more information, visit www.metlife.org.

About NASSP
In existence since 1916, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the preeminent organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The mission of NASSP is to promote excellence in school leadership. NASSP administers the National Honor Society®, National Junior Honor Society®, National Elementary Honor Society®, and National Association of Student Councils®. For more information about NASSP, located in Reston, VA, visit www.principals.org.