Chukker Creek Elementary named Blue Ribbon winner
Chukker Creek Elementary School Principal Amy Gregory had been keeping a secret from her faculty and students for several days - due to what is called an embargoed press release.
Finally, the embargo lifted Tuesday at 10 a.m., and Gregory happily got on the intercom to let everybody know the school has been named a 2009 No Child Left Behind/Blue Ribbon winner.
Chukker Creek is one of five South Carolina recipients of the prestigious award. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, administered through the U.S. Department of Education, honors public and private K-12 schools on either their academic achievements or their demonstration of gains in student achievement.
"We are so excited," Gregory said. "In a year when we're getting furloughed, it can be hard to keep morale up. This is a good ego boost. Our teachers have done such a tremendous job in educating our students. It's a wonderful pat on the back for them."
Along with Aiken Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt and Area 1 Assistant Superintendent Peggy Trivelas, Gregory visited several classrooms to celebrate with the teachers and students.
"It's awesome," said first-grade teacher Ruby Taylor. "A lot of teachers here at Chukker have put so much work into this school, and our children have made so many gains. We've always known we're terrific and now everybody else knows. Teachers all over Aiken County are working like the dickens, too. This helps us affirm that what we're doing is right."
The U.S. Department of Education allows the S.C. State Department of Education to nominate five schools. The others are Carolina Elementary School in Hartsville, Midland Elementary School in Horry County, Ninety Six High School in Greenwood County and Chapin High School.
The schools had to meet at least one of two criteria: Achievement in the top 10 percent of schools in the state and/or schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Chukker Creek met both requirements, which may be a surprise to many Aiken County residents.
"We do have a lot of kids on free and reduced lunch," Gregory said. "We work hard with those kids to receive the same education and to excel at the same rate. These kids are holding up well. We look at data specifically for those kids; and for those who are not meeting standards, we adjust instruction to meet their needs."
When a school like Chukker Creek is recognized with such an important award, said Everitt, it's a reflection of the leadership, the faculty and the students and also reflects on the entire community.
"At a principals' meeting this morning, all the other principals were as excited as these kids at Chukker Creek are," Everitt said. "They're very selective in giving this award. It's one of the pinnacles of great teaching and learning. The kids are so proud and one was saying how he really wanted his Chukker Creek T-shirt."
Previously, Chukker Creek received the Dick and Tunky Riley School Improvement Award, Palmetto Gold and Silver Awards for academic success and was a Palmetto's Finest finalist.
The school has also benefited from parental involvement over the years, Gregory said.
"We have a lot of it and that's a good thing," she said. "Any given day of the week, we have parents here putting up bulletin boards and reading with small groups."
Trivelas and Gregory met early in their careers when both were teaching at Oakwood-Windsor Elementary School and have worked together administratively for several years at different times. Trivelas spent five years as the Chukker Creek principal. Gregory was her assistant principal the last two years and moved up when Trivelas was appointed as assistant superintendent.
"I'm so proud of Amy and so proud of the school," Trivelas said. "When we worked at Oakwood-Windsor, we were across the hall from each other. We talked about instruction then and we talk about instruction now."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.