"It's very exciting, very motivating," Willow Glen Elementary principal Dayle D'Anna said. "It is an affirmation of the work that goes on here."

Project Cornerstone is a countywide program that focuses on bringing developmental assets to the students in its schools. According to the Cornerstone website, these developmental assets are the positive relationships, opportunities, values and skills that young people need to grow up to become caring and responsible adults.

There are 41 developmental assets defined by the Search Institute, an independent nonprofit organization that shares the same vision. These building blocks for healthy child and youth development include adult role models, positive peer influence, caring school climates and a sense that the community values youth.

In order to thrive, the institute says, students need 31 or more of the 41 assets. Project Cornerstone conducted a survey in 2004-05 that shows Santa Clara County youth average only 18.8 assets.

The elementary school was nominated for this award because of its collaborative work among parents, teachers and students and the impact it has had on both its campus climate as well as campuses around the county.

"With so many schools building on developmental assets, it's very special to be singled out," San Jose Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Fuqua said. "The school has created a warm and nurturing environment, as well as helping children believe in themselves."

This award was given for the different facets of the school that are actively involved in bettering the campus climate.

Students have been involved with the Cornerstone "Leadership Challenge" workshops for the past three years and in 2005 put what they learned to use by producing a student newspaper devoted to information on bullying and advice.

In 2006, all fourth- and fifth-graders are attending leadership training so they can continue to create a positive impact.

At the same time, parents have become role models for both Willow Glen students and other schools in the county.

When Felecia Mulvany's first-grader was bullied at school, she founded ABC Parents group two years ago, a program that involves parents working with teachers in order to teach self-worth and better values at school.

This homegrown program was adopted by Project Cornerstone and now touches the lives of more than 12,000 students across the county every month, Mulvany said.

Along with these accomplishments, the parent group inspired mothers who spoke Spanish to create a parent group, Los Dichos de la Casa, based on the one started the previous year at Anne Darling Elementary School.

Once more, Willow Glen Elementary took the lead by becoming the only school in the county in which both parent groups meet together on a monthly basis.

"Between our school, Booksin and Schallenberger actively involved in this program, I'm really looking forward to how the middle and high school's campus climate will change," Mulvany said. "My goal is to take this program not just countywide but nationwide. The kids need it. Teachers are so busy working on academic skills that they need help with the social skills."

This year, the elementary school's API scores grew by 55 points. And, for the first time, it has applied for California Distinguished School status and is receiving a visitation at the end of March.

For more information on Project Cornerstone, visit www.projectcorner stone.org.