Gillett Elementary School, for the fourth year in a row, was honored as a Title I School of Recognition, confirming poverty hasn’t prevented students from achieving success.
On Thursday, Gillett was recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a Beating the Odds School by demonstrating success in educating students from low-income families.
“We could not be happier that we once again have been recognized by the DPI for what we strive to do at Gillett Elementary School,” Principal Curt Angeli said.
Angeli is in his first year as principal, after 24 years of teaching fourth and fifth grades at the school.
“Our job is to serve every child who comes in our doors,” he said.
Each child is respected and valued, no matter what financial struggles their families may face, Angeli added.
Gillett Elementary has an enrollment of about 265 students, plus 26 teachers and 12 paraprofessionals.
During the 2013-14 school year, the school adapted to a new writing series that improved all aspects of language arts, Angeli said.
The learning focus at the school this year will be literacy, he said, and the staff is working to fully align curriculum to the Common Core Standards and transition to a new state test, the Smarter Balanced Assessment.
To be eligible for the state recognition, schools must receive federal Title I funding to provide services to large numbers or high percentages of economically disadvantaged children and meet achievement criteria.
“These awards recognize the work by students and their parents along with teachers, school administrators and school staff members to break the link between poverty and low academic achievement,” State Superintendent Tony Evers stated in a news release announcing the award.
Several Gillett Elementary School teachers will accept the award and $500 Oct. 13 at a ceremony at the state Capitol.
This year’s 173 recipients included 133 elementary schools, 29 middle or junior high schools and 11 high schools.
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