Jansen Selected as One of the Top 19 Schools in NYS Making Significant Academic Progress
What does this mean? The U.S. Department of Education has established the “No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Program” to honor schools that are academically superior or make dramatic gains in student achievement. “Dramatically improving schools improved the performance of all students to high levels in reading (language arts or English) and mathematics on state assessments.” The Department of Education decides how many schools each state may nominate. For 2008, only 19 New York State schools have been selected to apply for this honor – and the Greater Johnstown School District’s Jansen Avenue Elementary School is one of them!

What happens next? Many hours of research, data collection, committee meetings and writing will be necessary to complete an extensive 20 page application. For this purpose, we have established a Blue Ribbon Committee, comprised of the following Johnstown School District staff members: Superintendent John S. Whelan; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Katherine Sullivan; Jansen Avenue Principal Patricia Sotero; teachers James Westman, Stephen DiMarco and Susan Ackerbauer and teaching assistant Shari Braemer; together with HFM BOCES Data Analyst Marie-Helene Rogerson.

Then what? The New York State Education Department will review the application and determine whether Jansen’s information gets sent to Washington, D.C. for consideration by the U.S. Department of Education. If the application is approved at both the state and federal levels, Johnstown's Jansen Avenue School could be nationally recognized for its academic achievement as one of America’s most successful schools.

What does this mean to Jansen? Acknowledgement of teamwork, hard work, academic growth and extraordinary efforts! We relish this opportunity to trumpet the accomplishments of our students and staff, aided by the support of their families and the community, in closing the achievement gap.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO OUR COMMUNITY? IT MEANS WE ALL HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO BE PROUD OF!