[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 RIDGEVIEW CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMENDATION HONORING PRINCIPAL OPIE 
                               BLACKWELL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUCY McBATH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2019

  Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent and 
Ridgeview Charter Middle School Principal Opie Blackwell. A good 
principal knows that his or her students need a robust support system 
along with a strong education to guarantee success in the classroom and 
in life. This philosophy is the basis upon which Mr. Blackwell has 
structured his school.
  Principal Blackwell demonstrates exceptional dedication to ensuring 
that the students at Ridgeview Charter Middle School receive the 
quality education that they deserve. He is actively involved in the 
daily life at Ridgeview, takes time to chaperone school trips, and is 
committed to the wellbeing of the faculty.
  Principal Blackwell also takes pride in recognizing outstanding 
members of the school's staff. A few weeks before the last day of the 
school year, Mr. Blackwell took to social media to document an 
impromptu jump rope competition that took place during a 6th grade 
Chinese class. The class had ventured outside to practice their Chinese 
when the students and teachers began to see who could jump rope the 
longest. The students won, as Mr. Blackwell proudly noted, but he also 
gave the teachers their due credit. This friendly competition is one of 
many examples of how hard Mr. Blackwell and his colleagues work to give 
their students a positive and engaging learning environment.
  This year, that hard work was recognized by the National Forum to 
Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform as a Georgia Lighthouse School to 
Watch. The National Forum is a prestigious organization of educators, 
researchers, and officers committed to promoting academic excellence 
for young students.
  In 1999, the National Forum selected four middle schools from across 
the country as the first Schools to Watch. Since then, the program has 
expanded to 18 states and honored 465 schools. Ridgeview Charter Middle 
is one of nine schools in Georgia recognized as a School to Watch. The 
National Forum strives to make every middle-grade school one that is 
academically excellent, socially equitable, and responsive to the 
developmental needs and interests of middle schoolers. It has developed 
tools to help schools meet their criteria to expand their program 
across the country.
  Ridgeview Charter Middle School's policies for the classroom and 
overall school culture soar above and beyond the Forum's standards. 
When the National Forum staff spent time at Ridgeview, they saw that 
almost every student was actively engaged in the classroom and teachers 
were using a wide variety of learning strategies to assist their 
students.
  As National Forum staff spoke to students, it was evident that 
Ridgeview students feel that they can be heard by their teachers and 
administrators when an issue arises. As a result, students are 
encouraged to give their input and help make changes to improve the 
school.
   The student-first culture is evident at Ridgeview Charter Middle 
School. Student work is clearly displayed in the hallways, and the 
faculty and staff are familiar faces at music concerts and the annual 
musical. Mr. Blackwell recorded the finale of this year's musical, 
Alice in Wonderland, and posted it to social media with encouraging 
words about the performance and the work done by students, faculty, and 
parents.
  In addition to the environment created by teachers and staff, school 
administrators have worked to ensure that the school is one that is 
clean and comfortable. Music is played in the hallways during class 
change to create a calming and pleasant atmosphere. Inspirational 
messages painted on the walls add a culture of positivity, and those 
messages convey the high expectations the school has for students.
  Ridgeview Charter Middle School stands out as a success story in 
public education. In his principal's message on the school's website, 
Principal Blackwell made his formal title ``Proud Principal''. With 
such an exceptional review by the National Forum, he and the entire 
Ridgeview Charter Middle School family certainly should feel proud of 
the school, its faculty and staff, and most of all, the outstanding 
student body.

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