Jefferson Elementary among 356 schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
The Jefferson Elementary School staff proudly display a banner recognizing the Elmhurst Community Unit District 205 school as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
Jefferson Elementary School now has the “bragging rights” to be added to the list of schools in the United States to have earned National Blue Ribbon Status.
The announcement came from the U.S. Department of Education on Sept. 23, and subsequently from the school district. The Elmhurst school, in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, was among 356 schools named as a National Blue Ribbon School, and one of 18 in Illinois, according to the department of education.
“This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups,” the department described in a release.
Jefferson Elementary was named in the category of “Exemplary High Performing Schools,” according to Principal Lori Sweeney, who narrated that the state nominated Jefferson for the honor, after which the school applied to the department of education last April.
The principal further related that the application’s contents came from “a collaborative effort” made by school staff and parents, adding, “Writing [the] application was a labor of love … a 19-page love letter to Jefferson.”
In choosing Blue Ribbon schools, the department of education looks at school leaders who “articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards,” the release emphasizes.
Sweeney said modestly that she is not surprised by the recognition because of “the team that exists at the school,” elaborating that there is “a long tradition that students, staff and parents work together to achieve academic excellence.”
“I think that has been a guiding light, a ‘North Star,’ for a long time,” she continued, with a lot of what she called “coherence” with each grade’s staff working toward teaching skills that carry on to the next grade level.
Additionally, the award nominees must also have leaders who “showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff,” the release states.
“We prioritize professional learning for teachers,” the principal said, and as such, “have adopted some really high-quality materials.”
“The core value is that we grow and learn together,” she added.
In a release from District 205, an overview of the school notes that “Jefferson is defined by deep, lasting relationships, and we intentionally foster strong connections among members of our community.
“People come to Jefferson and they stay, as evidenced by teachers who are celebrating over 15 years here; and even a handful of staff members who attended Elmhurst schools as children and now teach in our district.”
“That high bar is for students and for ourselves,” the release continues. “At Jefferson we know that learning has to be meaningful to make a difference. We intentionally teach skills and content that are interdisciplinary and vertically aligned.
“We are proud of the fact that teachers expect every student to do their best to meet high expectations, and 99 percent of our students report that their teachers ‘expect them to work hard.’”
In fact, “Sweeney echoed, “We are a really special place and our team works really hard. We know how to work and have fun.”
In a separate release, District 205 Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell commented on the award, saying, “We are incredibly proud of the Jefferson Elementary community for this prestigious honor … Their dedication to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where students are educated, engaged and empowered reflects the core values throughout our district.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our students, staff and families.”
According to the department of education, 420 schools are typically nominated each year from all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.
The school district release mentions that other District 205 National Blue Ribbon School awardees include York High School (1983), Edison Elementary School (2010), Lincoln Elementary School (1999, 2012), Bryan Middle School (2012) and Sandburg Middle School (2007, 2013).
“We feel very fortunate that we were selected,” Sweeney said, adding that students get “a really strong education at Jefferson … now we can prepare kids for the K-5 experience.”
