Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary and Joaquin Miller Elementary both received the 2014 CA Distinguished School and the Exemplary Art Education awards, Burbank Unified officials announced at the Board of Education meeting Thursday, September 18.
“For their outstanding performance in academic performance and arts education, we honor those who work at and attend these schools for being selected as two of the 424 California Distinguished School for the state of California for 2014,” commented Dr. Tom Kissinger, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services for Burbank Unified School District.
“This is no small achievement,” he continued. “There are more than 5000 elementary schools in the state of California.”
Both Stevenson and Miller elementary also earned the Exemplary Art Education award for outstanding arts programs. Only 12 schools in the state received this distinction.
“Both of these awards reflect all the hard work by our students and their families as well as the Miller staff which includes dedicated teachers and all of the support staff,” said Miller Elementary Principal Judy Hession.
“We’ve learned it takes every one working together to accomplish our goals,” she went on to say. “Through teamwork, all things are possible.”
“I’m very proud that this is a three-peat for Stevenson Elementary School,” said Principal Debbie Ginnetti. She noted the school has won a California Distinguished School award each of the three times they have applied in the past decade, in 2006, 2010 and now in 2014.
“I really need to thank my teachers because each and every day they come with the distinct goal to make a difference in the lives of their students,” Ginnetti added, as she also lauded students, parents and support staff at the school.
“Our students come every day with the expectation we are going to teach them and help them succeed,” she said.
Both principals also thanked Burbank Unified’s Arts Coordinator Peggy Flynn for her ongoing support in developing the arts programs at each elementary school.
