Congratulations to Lindsay staff and students
Lindsay was one of the winners in the U.S. Department of Education’s Race for the Top competition, a result we were very confident would occur.
While the reward is $10 million in federal funding over four years, the district’s Performance Base Learning concept is a winner for students in that 4,000-student district.
Only 16 awards were given representing 12 different school districts. Lindsay was one of three in California so honored. The award was so prestigious, the winners were announced by the White House. Lindsay was announced as a finalist earlier this month.
While Lindsay’s teaching approach is not only trend-setting, it is also getting results. Superintendent Thomas Rooney said state test scores have steadily improved since the teaching approach was instituted four years ago. As they say, the proof is in the pudding.
The Race for the Top was designed to reward those who are trying new approaches to learning and Lindsay certainly fits into that category.
Porterville Unified School District also fits into the category. Although not a winner, PUSD’s pathways program also got the attention of the judges. Of the 372 applications filed, PUSD ranked 113th, a ranking which district administrators and teachers should be extremely proud of. And, its pathways program is recognized as one of the best in the country, if not the best.
Lindsay Superintendent Rooney should be beaming with pride, but credit also needs to go to former Lindsay Superintendent Janet Kligel, who instituted the program before she retired last year. Rooney was assistant superintendent at that time.
What the Race to the Top judging shows us is that local school districts are doing all they can to improve the education of local children and for that, the future should be brighter for those students and the communities in which they live.
