Published: October 29, 2009 11:35 pm      

Wolfe City school to receive national recognition

WOLFE CITY — The mood at Wolfe City Elementary School is one of accomplishment as the administrators were notified earlier this month that the school is one of two that will represent Texas at the National Title I conference in Washington D.C. in January.

School officials were notified earlier this month that the school was selected for national recognition by the National Title I Association and that the school will represent the state as one of the highest rated Title I Distinguished Schools.

“Of more than 8,000 campuses across the state, only six schools were named as finalists and we were one of them,” said Principal Ola Owens. “After being named a finalist, we then had to submit a report about our Title I program. The Texas Education Agency then sent a team to visit our campus. Following that, we conducted a webinar with TEA.”

To represent the school, 16 teachers will attend the conference that lasts Jan. 21-24.

“You would have thought we had won the lottery,” said Owens, describing the cheers from students and teachers when she made the announcement about the national award over the school’s intercom. “We are planning a special day for our students, and since we made big gains in our science scores, Doktor Kaboom will perform for the students. Each student will also get a free shirt.”

According to Owens, to be nationally recognized for academics is a great honor for the faculty, student body and community.

“Part of the award is for our commended rates on the TAKS exams,” said Owens. “We are looking at improving our commended rates each year.”

In addition to the Title I award, Owens is proud to note that the school was listed as one of the top ten elementary schools for the greater Dallas area in the Dallas Morning News and will receive an award next month by the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

“It is an honor for our school to be recognized for high achievement.”