Pauls Valley Junior High School faculty, staff and students gathered in the school’s auditorium Monday, alongside members of the community, to celebrate the school’s recent recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.
Pauls Valley Junior High was one of only four Oklahoma schools nominated for the prestigious award earlier this year by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. It is considered by many to be the highest honor a school can earn.
Pauls Valley Junior High School is one of 297 schools selected from among the 132,183 public and private schools across the nation that were eligible for the award.
“Students, your hard work and your effort – and faculty and staff, your hard work and your effort – has not gone unnoticed,” Pauls Valley Superintendent Mike Martin told the group gathered Monday. “Very, very rarely do you get the opportunity to be honored like this, so congratulations to all of you. It’s very well deserved.”
Martin went on to explain the process required to achieve National Blue Ribbon Award status.
“Once you’re nominated by the State Department of Education, that’s when the work starts,” Martin said. “The application process is tremendous. Just because you’re named as a candidate and nominated by the State Department of Education that doesn’t mean you’re going to get the award. You then have to go through a very rigorous of proving why you should win this award.”
To accomplish that task, PVJH formed a committee that was charged with compiling necessary data, answering questions and completing the extensive paperwork required.
Committee members included Principal Martha Graham, Vice Principal Travis Thompson, Counselor Elizabeth Sam, Technology Director Lucy Knight, Librarian Melinda Alfred, and classroom instructors Courtney Green, Mylaine Grimmett, Margaret Johnson and Nolan Pullen.
Graham, Alfred and Pullen had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. earlier this month to accept the award on behalf of the school at the National Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony.
“We think it’s fantastic. I’m so happy for our staff, our students and the community. It’s an awesome honor,” Graham said.
State Representative Cindy Roe also attended Monday’s celebration, extending her congratulations to students and staff.
“Wow! This is a big deal, guys.” Roe said as she took the podium. “Congratulations to the students and faculty, the staff and administration and everybody who made this possible.”
Roe presented the school with a citation of congratulations from the Oklahoma Legislature, further recognizing the achievement.
“Whereas Pauls Valley Junior High School, led by Principal Martha Graham, has excelled and earned the honor, among only 297 schools across the nation, for caring, encouraging and believing in its students, while also requiring high standards and motivating students to pursue academic excellence,” Roe said, reading from the citation. “Now therefore, the Oklahoma State Legislature hereby extends to Pauls Valley Junior High School sincere congratulations and best wishes for continued academic achievement.”
