By By Adrienne McKenzie
Huxford Elementary School was awarded by the Alabama State Department of Education as a Title I Distinguished School for Alabama.
Recognized were 64 schools from 35 different states plus the District of Columbia. No more than two schools from any state were chosen.
Title I Distinguished Schools hold their pupils to high standards and also take the improvement of children's learning seriously. Huxford will now be held as an example of approaches, techniques and programs that are successful.
Betty Warren, principal at Huxford Elementary School, learned about this honor in the beginning of October. She said this is the first year Huxford has received this award.
"We are the first and only school in this county to earn this award," Warren said.
The largest federal aid program in kindergarten through 12th grade is Title I. The National Association of State Title I Directors selected schools that have been proven as superior for recognition. NASTID selects the schools and places them into one of two categories. The first category is "exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years" and the second is "closing the achievement gap between student groups."
Huxford was recognized in the first category due to different factors. These factors include: analysis of data, targeted professional development in coordination with the Alabama Reading Initiative and the implementation of research based programs.
Huxford's academic accomplishment is a result of commitment to education by students and families. The professional quality of the staff and the high expectations placed on the families and children are all qualities that created a successful school.
Warren said that the faculty and children worked for the award.
"This is a very prestigious award for being extremely successful," Warren said. "The faculty, staff, boys and girls earned the award. I just accepted the award for them. What an honor!"
Warren flew to Long Beach, Calif., to the National Title I Conference to accept the award on Huxford's behalf in January.
Huxford will also be recognized at the State Board Meeting on Feb. 8. at the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium in Montgomery. Warren will be there to accept the resolution presented by the State Board.