Tongue River Elementary School is Named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 325 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Tongue River Elementary was named as one of two Wyoming schools to receive the award for 2021. TRE’s award is based on exemplary high performance as measured by WYTOPP.
“This year’s cohort of honorees demonstrates what is possible when committed educators and school leaders create vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school cultures where rich teaching and learning can flourish,” said Secretary Cardona. “I commend this school and all our Blue Ribbon honorees for working to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. In the face of unprecedented circumstances, you found creative ways to engage, care for, protect, and teach our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have so much to offer and can serve as a model for other schools and communities so that we can truly build back better.”
The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools.
Principal Annie Griffin, Superintendent Pete Kilbride as well as a TRE teacher will be going to Washington DC in November to receive the official award and be presented with the National Blue Ribbon Flag. Principal Griffin said, “This is a huge honor for our TRE Family and for the Tongue River community. Our vision is to ‘be known for both our kindness and our academics’, this national award signifies we have met our vision. Our students and staff work to educate the whole child and believe social emotional health and academic success go hand in hand. To have earned the highest national award presented to schools is something that makes us all stand a bit taller and hold our heads a bit higher. We are proud to be TRE Eagles.”
Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://www.nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/.
