[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 163 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1680-E1681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 15, 2013

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments 
of Columbia Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, located in 
my congressional district, for receiving the Department of Education's 
prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award.
  Established in 1898 in the heart of the city, Columbia Elementary 
School is one of Colorado Springs's first elementary schools. Its 
mission statement defines the core learning objectives of the school:
  The Columbia Community will collaboratively ensure that learning 
takes place for ALL by being responsible, setting high standards and 
accepting no excuses. Our students will be contributing members of 
society who are respectful, responsible, and capable life-long 
learners.
  The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and 
private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at 
exceptionally high levels or where significant improvements are being 
made in students' academic achievement. A National Blue Ribbon School's 
flag overhead has become a mark of excellence in education recognized 
by everyone from parents to policy-makers in thousands of communities.
  The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. 
The first category is ``Exemplary High Performing,'' in which schools 
are recognized among their state's highest performing schools, as 
measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second 
category is ``Exemplary Improving,'' in which schools that have at 
least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds 
demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels 
as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
  Columbia Elementary is an ``Exemplary Improving School,'' but it 
hadn't always been that way, and there is an extraordinary story behind 
this. Prior to the arrival of the current school Principal, Karen Shaw, 
five years ago, the Colorado Springs School District had placed the 
school on ``Technical Assistance'' status, because the statistical data 
about academic achievement indicated ``low achievement and low growth 
for a period of several years.'' Teachers were working hard, but it 
wasn't organized or aligned, and kids weren't succeeding. Ms. Shaw 
changed all of that. She brought a small handful of teachers with her 
from her previous school and through ingenuity and hard work 
implemented new curriculum and interventions, schedules and 
methodologies, data procedures and trainings to change the entire 
culture of the school. So, in five years this extraordinary school has 
been transformed from ``Technical Assistance'' to a ``National Blue 
Ribbon School.'' This new approach transformed ``Low Achievement and 
Low Growth'' test scoring to ``High Achievement and High Growth.
  I am so proud to have a school of this quality in my Congressional 
District. The strengths of Columbia are its staff, students, families 
and community. Teachers embrace using data

[[Page E1681]]

to improve instruction, which ultimately has led to increased student 
achievement. The staff leads by example by being life-long learners 
themselves! They take advantage of multiple professional development 
opportunities including active engagement strategies, differentiated 
instruction, Positive Behavior Supports and Response to Intervention--
where Columbia is exemplary at both RTI and PBS implementation.
  The teachers at Columbia work over the summer for credit to learn 
curriculum and create materials for students. They offer numerous 
after-school activities for students that range from yoga to math club. 
The staff and teachers' commitment inspires a strong work ethic and 
exemplary attitude. Students at Columbia are respectful, responsible, 
safe and kind. As a result, discipline problems have dramatically 
declined in the past four years, and now teachers have more time to 
teach. The Award's effect on schools and communities is powerful. As 
one principal recalls, ``The National Blue Ribbon begins a process you 
cannot stop.''
  Many National Blue Ribbon Schools find they attract business 
partners, financial assistance and volunteers. If school choice is an 
option, as it is at Columbia, student applications to National Blue 
Ribbon Schools increase. National Blue Ribbon School principals and 
teacher leaders are called on to give presentations at state, regional, 
and professional meetings about the practices that have made a 
difference for their students and faculty. District and state educators 
visit these model schools to learn about promising leadership and 
instructional strategies.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent such a fine school and want to 
recognize the accomplishment of Columbia Elementary School, its 
teachers and staff, and the students who so richly deserve this coveted 
Blue Ribbon School Award.

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