Fantastic Four

Danette Goulet

There was much rejoicing at four elementary schools Wednesdayafter the

principals on each campus learned their schools had been nominated for

the state’s top educational award.

Kaiser, Killybrooke and Victoria elementary schools, all in Costa Mesa,

and Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar, received nominations

for the California Distinguished School Award.

Newport Heights Elementary in Newport Beach received an honorable

mention.

Of the school districts in Orange County, Newport-Mesa Unified and Orange

Unified received the highest number of nominations with four apiece, said

Linda DeLeon, coordinator of school recognition programs for the county.

“We are just elated,” said Mary Ann Gilbreth, principal at Killybrooke.

“We are bursting. We’d been waiting and waiting.”

The California Distinguished School Award is part of the state’s school

recognition program, created in 1985. A school must first receive the

state award before it is eligible for the national Blue Ribbon Award, the

highest educational honor bestowed by the federal government.

In October, the state Board of Education listed 14 Newport-Mesa

elementary schools as contenders for the nominations. To be eligible, a

school’s Stanford 9 Achievement Test scores must rank in the upper half

of the statewide results.

Now the four nominees have one last challenge to face -- a site visit

from state officials, who will verify the information listed on the

applications.

“It’s just a validation of what was written. It’s not a tier of the

examination,” said Daryle Palmer, principal at Kaiser. “We’re really

excited. It’s a well-deserved honor for some terrific people who work at

this school.”

The principals expect site visits to be scheduled by next week and

conducted throughout February and March.

At Killybrooke, Gilbreth said she felt the school’s ace in the hole was

the diversity of programs working in harmony.

“We’ve been working together and celebrating the diversity at my site,”

she said. “We have 15 different languages, special education needs,

visually impaired and severely mentally and physically impaired all

working together.”

Each principal cited teachers, students, parents and the surrounding

community as being responsible for the achievement.

“We’re thrilled,” said Karen Kendall, principal at Harbor View. “I’m weak

with excitement. Everyone contributes to education here and gives 100% or

more each day.”

State educational officials will the list of schools selected for the

award April 7.

“We’re looking forward to the visit and we’re looking forward to that

final announcement,” Kendall said.