(Shoshoni, WY) – In December, Shoshoni Elementary Principal Andrea Gilbertson announced they were named a National ESEA Distinguished School. County 10 caught up with Gilbertson to discuss this honor for the school, their category of achievement, and what it means for future Wranglers.
Shoshoni Elementary was selected for their “exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years,” Gilbertson shared with County 10.
“The success at Shoshoni Elementary is built from a team approach in everything we do. We share a collective responsibility for students and their learning. It is not ‘my students’ or ‘your students,’ it is a commitment from everyone to our students; we share every child that walks our halls.”
Gilbertson attributes receiving this honor to their individual student focus, commitment to student success, and common goals.
“This achievement of exceptional student performance and academic growth is the result of the investment of our staff at all levels with a laser focus on each individual student and their learning,” she continued. “There is an unwavering commitment from staff and parents to the success of our children, and the coordinated efforts of many working towards the same goals. Most importantly, this honor is the result of our outstanding Wrangler students putting their best effort forth every day!”
The school plans to celebrate this achievement at the end of January. Looking ahead they plan to keep the bar high. “Our positive school climate and our family culture will remain the cornerstone of growing Wrangler students!”
I am incredibly proud of the way we have lived our collective commitments – staff, students, and families. This honor is symbolic of the culture of excellence, growth, and community that we have created in our school. The dedication and love that is poured into our school every day are at the heart of this awesome accomplishment!! It has been an immense and admirable effort; way to go Wranglers!!
-Shoshoni Elementary Principal Andrea Gilbertson
Gilbertson also shared the criteria schools need to meet in order to be eligible as well as the categories they can be selected from. That info is shared below.
School eligibility criteria is as follows: a poverty rate of at least 35 percent for the selected year, demonstrate high academic achievement for two or more consecutive years, and meet or exceed state-determined accountability criteria based on two or more consecutive years of achievement data.
Eligible schools then fall into one of the following categories: exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years, closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years, and excellence in serving special population of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.).