Blue Ribbon School award added to recent accolades
by Arvin Ahmadi
Editor in Chief
Jefferson was selected as a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School for the first time in its history on Sept. 15. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the 314 schools chosen for this award, the highest honor the Department of Education can bestow upon schools.
To Principal Evan Glazer, just being nominated was an honor in itself.
“We were excited that the commonwealth of Virginia recommended us because they, in my opinion, are taking notice of some of the unique things we’re doing here,” Glazer said.
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was started in 1982 and was renewed in 2002 to bring it up to date with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.
To qualify for the Blue Ribbon award, a school must have made adequate yearly progress for the past two years under NCLB. Schools are chosen based on one of two criteria: either they demonstrate dramatic improvement in student performance on state or national exams, or they place in the top 10 percent of the aforementioned exams.
Schools must go through a lengthy application process that begins in November. They must submit test scores, demographic data, information regarding the curriculum and unique programs, and narrative answers to a variety of questions.
News of the award was kept relatively mum among the Jefferson community until about a week after it was announced.
“Frankly, I had no clue about it " I just recently saw it on the rolling announcements,” said junior Garrett Hoppin.
Even then, the Blue Ribbon Award received very little to no chatter in the Jefferson community. Some students, while realizing that the honor is meaningful, think that it is less significant to students than to adults.
“I think that for someone who does not go to the school " a prospective student or investor, for instance " it’s important,” Hoppin said. “As a student, though, I think it is cool but not really a big deal.”
Senior Emily Yu considers the award from a different perspective " that is, compared to the countless other awards Jefferson has received.
“While it’s always an honor for TJ to receive any award, the magnitude of this Blue Ribbon [award] is kind of dwarfed in comparison to, say, the US News & World Report ranking,” she said.
Glazer and Science and Technology Division Manager Jim Jarvis will be attending a ceremony Nov. 2-3 in Washington, D.C., to be honored for the award. They will receive a plaque and a special flag. Additionally, they will give a presentation on ways Jefferson is being socially responsible through unique programs such as eighth period, One Question and mentorship.
“I think it’s important the community is aware we have been recognized for their hard work and achievement but not focus our success on awards,” Glazer said. “Instead, we should spend more time celebrating special activities and events unique to TJ, like tjSTAR, Homecoming week, I-NITE and J-Day.”
