Congrats to a Blue Ribbon school

Grade-school students gasped when the man in the blue suit and orange tie said he worked for President George W. Bush.

Then he jumped off the stage during Franklin Elementary’s assembly Wednesday, which again caused murmurs. Then the man made his secret announcement – and that made the teachers and administrators take a breath.

Spokane’s Franklin Elementary, 2627 E. 17th, was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, a distinction that will go to five Washington public schools this school year for academic excellence and improvement. This week, 206 public schools will receive the honor nationally, for making great improvements on standardized tests required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

“I’m pleased and honored to give this award of a Blue Ribbon School to Franklin Elementary,” said Eric Earling, a regional representative for the Department of Education.

The claps and cheers from hundreds of students sitting on the little gym floor inspired some to reach over and pat their teachers, who were praised by Earling. Spokane Public School officials like Superintendent Brian Benzel also received praise.

Earling read a statement by Secretary of Education Rod Paige that said, “For years, many of our underprivileged children were ignored and prejudged, moved to the back of the room and quietly pushed through the system, with their scores hidden in averages. They were cast into the shadows, then cast out into life without the skills to succeed.”

Paige’s statement said the No Child Left Behind Act is generating results, like those found at Franklin Elementary.

Critera for the national Blue Ribbon honor include dramatic improvement on state tests where 40 percent of students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, which was the case for Franklin. Schools can also be honored for placing in the top 10 percent on state reading and math tests for private and public schools.

The award has been given for more than 20 years, although the criteria have evolved, Earling said. Gonzaga Prep received a Blue Ribbon Award in 1992-1993. Colville High School won the honor twice, in 1983-1984 and 1988-1989.

About half of Franklin’s students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches and have shown huge gains for the last few years in the Washington Assessment for Student Learning test.

Teachers credit their success to a supportive atmosphere that allows them to try new methods, which are then shared among a tight-knit group of peers.

In 2002-2003, the passing-rate scores on the WASL that led to Franklin’s nomination were 89 percent passing for reading, 87 percent for math and 78 percent for writing.

Before and after the assembly, fourth-grade teacher Courtni Clayden read to her students. Her past students were among those who pushed up the scores. The book, “Charlie Anderson,” was about a cat with two homes.

Students listened with purpose. As they sat on the rug, they were asked to listen for the story’s setting.

“One cold night a cat walked out of the woods,” Clayden said, reading from a rocking chair. “I love this story. Are you thinking about the setting?”

Students caught the clue that it was cold. Some noticed the pumpkins and decorative corn stalks in one picture. This was a cold fall night.

Clayden is starting her seventh year at Franklin. She said the staff of veteran teachers has driven home the point that quality teaching comes from the thoroughness of instruction.

“Go slow, but go deep,” Clayden said. “It’s not about how much ground you cover in a year.”

For instance, in social studies, she’ll pick maybe three units of a book rather than worry about covering the entire book.

She’ll use other materials, like Internet photos or sounds, to enhance a lesson.

Franklin’s the kind of school where teachers feel very comfortable sharing what works with one another, said Principal Mary Seeman.

Most teachers have worked together more than a decade to perfect their craft, Seeman said. Even the cafeteria workers who served pizza and nachos said they know that Franklin’s staff has an amazing ability to work together.

The credit is long overdue, said Becky Davis, a new librarian who came to school early for the assembly.

“I’m just busting,” Davis said. “This is a school that has been taking care of business for years out of the limelight.”

Now it’s likely the spotlight won’t be so rare.