12 County Schools Get Top State Honors

A dozen schools in Ventura County scooped up this year’s California Distinguished Schools awards, the highest honor bestowed on state public schools.

The winning campuses were among the 225 elementary schools to receive recognition for successful teaching methods, parent and community involvement, school safety and modern technology. State evaluators culled the winners from a record 700 applicants, more than double the number that competed in the past.

Conejo Valley Unified School District racked up the most awards with honors going to Ladera, Madrona, Manzanita, Walnut and Weathersfield elementary schools.

“When you put a combination together of very committed, involved parents and couple it with teachers committed to what our motto is, ‘High expectation equals high achievement,’ and then you pull together 1,900 terrific students, you can’t miss,” said Conejo schools Supt. Jerry Gross.

Simi Valley Unified School District posted three new winners: Park View Center, Santa Susana and Sycamore elementary schools.

Red Oak Elementary in Oak Park Unified also received the award for the first time.

In western Ventura County, Las Posas Elementary School in the Pleasant Valley School District received the honor for the first time.

Thelma Bedell became the first school in the Santa Paula Elementary School District’s 124-year history to win the award.

“It’s very special for the whole community,” said Principal Barbara Ybarra. “I think this is something in honor of the whole community, certainly for the district and the school.”

Richard Bard Elementary School in Port Hueneme, which received the state honor in 1993, won the award again partly for the strength of its bilingual program, said school Principal Deborah DeSmeth.

“We’re very excited that the reviewers came and commended us for the job we were doing in that area,” DeSmeth said. “It’s validating. It’s been a lot of hard work and the teachers really believe in their program.”

The Distinguished School Program, launched in 1985, alternates each year between elementary and secondary schools.

The award winners will be honored during a ceremony at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 22.