Willow Glen Resident

Education

Willow Glen Elementary named California Distinguished School

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Willow Glen Elementary has another achievement to add to its growing list. It was recently named as a California Distinguished School.

"It is a huge honor," Principal Dayle D'Anna said. "We feel very proud of this recognition. It's an affirmation of all the hard work that has been done here."

D'Anna credits Willow Glen Elementary's parent community that helps, honors and respects the teachers and staff as the driving force behind the improvements at the school.

"We have spent the last couple of years focusing on standards of testing," D'Anna said. "We are a school that's on the fringe."

Willow Glen Elementary is classified as a Title I school. Under this classification the school is considered a part of the No Child Left Behind program, D'Anna said.

"It is unusual for a Title 1 school to receive this recognition," she added. "We are an extremely diverse school, and often test scores are related to economic level. After everything, we could say that even with all of our diversity, we still did it."

San Jose Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Fuqua said, "It's getting harder and harder to become a distinguished school as testing ranges become tighter, but Willow Glen Elementary has done a phenomenal job. We're very proud."

Part of the acknowledgement also lies not only with student achievement, but also with community involvement and teacher development, Fuqua said.

"It's not just that your students are getting better, but also what helped to get them there," she said.

The school made the announcement to its students on April 28, with a small celebration of encouragement before STAR testing began.

"To be honest, it will be really nice for anybody who drives by to see the new sign that will say 'Willow Glen Elementary, a California Distinguished School.' We're not just part of a little neighborhood but a larger community, and they will know of our achievement with it. We are all receiving this recognition," D'Anna said.

Willow Glen Elementary parent Felicia Mulvany agrees with D'Anna.

"It's just confirmation for all the things we already knew," Mulvany said. "We are being recognized for all the hard work we do."

Although parents are always working with teachers to find ways to enhance the children's education, Mulvany said test scores are just part of the equation.

"We want to make the whole campus an environment that will produce happy kids," Mulvany said. "Happy kids learn better."

Mulvany is now waiting to hear back on a grant she applied for from Lowe's. The $5,000 grant would be used to convert an area behind the portables along Lincoln Avenue into useable gardens for both teachers and students.

"If we get the grant, we will have an organic vegetable garden, with half of it used as a quiet reading garden," Mulvany said. "This way, teachers can use it for their science classes or to change the pace and hold class outside."