McAuliffe Middle School wins Blue Ribbon Award Jackson Middle School is first in Ocean County to win national award

McAuliffe Middle School wins Blue Ribbon Award
Jackson Middle School
is first in Ocean County
to win national award

When the Christa Mc-Auliffe Middle School, Jackson, opened in 1993, the staff and students knew it was going to be something special.

They were right. School officials recently received word that the school was awarded the prestigious national Blue Ribbon Schools award for excellence. McAuliffe is the first school in Ocean County to win this distinction.

Superintendent Margaret M. Quinn, who was the McAuliffe School’s principal when it opened in 1993, said she is "absolutely thrilled" that the school has earned this honor.

"Some of the staff will remember that when we opened, I talked about making McAuliffe a Blue Ribbon School," said Quinn. "How wonderful to have reached this goal. It is truly a wonderful distinction, and the students, staff and administration are truly deserving of it."

Since 1982, the U.S. Depart-ment of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools program has celebrated America’s most successful schools.

Through an application and evaluation process, the program identifies schools that are models of excellence and equity.

According to the U.S. Depart-ment of Education, the Blue Ribbon Schools Program promotes and supports the improvement of education in America by identifying and recognizing schools that are models of excellence and equity, that demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students and that achieve high academic improvement standards or have shown significant improvement over the last five years; making research-based self-assessment criteria available to schools looking for a way to reflect their progress; and encouraging schools to share information about best practices based on a shared understanding of the standards of educational success.

McAuliffe School Principal Terrence Kenney had been awaiting the news of the award since the Blue Ribbon Schools Program evaluator’s visit in April.

"I was thinking about it every day, wondering if we were able to demonstrate the true spirit of McAuliffe to the people who oversee the program," said Kenney. "I’m so pleased that we were recognized, that this school and all the amazing staff and students we have here are able to be recognized for their commitment to excellence."

Coincidentally, the official news of the award came on the day the school was celebrating "McAuliffest," a daylong celebration of the various programs presented during the year.

"McAuliffest is one of the best days of the year because we get to showcase all our programs and talent," said Kenney. "This year with this news, it is even better."

Ocean County Superintendent of Schools Lucille Reilly said being recognized as a Blue Rib-bon School is a tremendous complement.

"I am so pleased that this school is getting the recognition it deserves," said Reilly. "It is a great honor for a school and a district to receive this award in this extremely competitive program."

According to Dr. Carrol E. Roberts, the Blue Ribbon evaluator who visited the school, McAuliffe is truly student centered, which an environment that is safe and orderly.

"There is a feeling of comfort at Christa McAuliffe Middle School, yet the seriousness about the business of education is quite obvious," Roberts said in his evaluation. "Mutual respect among the administration, staff and students is evident. It is not uncommon to see students stop and chat with the staff or principal or staff in the hallways."

Roberts also had high praise for Kenny, who he called articulate and caring.

"Kenney has been the principal at Christa McAuliffe Middle School for eight years, but he does not readily accept credit for the school’s success; he would rather give credit to the faculty and staff along with his predecessor, the current Superintendent [of Schools] Margaret M. Quinn," said Carrol. "Although the day-to-day instructional leadership is embedded in the team of highly capable and caring teachers, the focal point of the building leadership rests with the school’s child-centered principal, Mr. Terrence Kenney."

The district will be celebrating this award at a ceremony and open house on from 1-3 p.m. June 9. The community is invited to attend the ceremony, which will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony to recognize the achievement and a tour of the school.