Dwyer provides example for all

Congratulations are in order. Yet another Huntington Beach school has

distinguished itself and been honored by the state of California.

Dwyer Middle School was named a California Distinguished School

last week while its hard-working students, teachers and staff were

away on a well-deserved spring break.

It is the top educational honor in the state, and the precursor to

becoming a National Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the federal

government bestows on a school. It is an honor many schools in

Huntington Beach hold and one all should aspire to. It is an award

that requires an innovative staff and eager students.

Created in 1985 as part of the School Recognition Program, the

award is meant to honor schools for a providing an excellent

education.

More impressive than the fact that Dwyer claimed the prestigious

title was the attitude of Principal Duane Cox, who used the state’s

evaluation of the school as an opportunity to learn where they might

improve.

He said the evaluation process was helpful in identifying school

programs that are successful and those that need improvement.

He also took the joyous occasion as one to look to the future. The

needs of at-risk students and the school’s reading program are

important areas that Cox said he will continue to work on and

strengthen.

Each time our schools win, it is a welcome reminder that our

children are getting the education they need and deserve. But it

should also stand as a challenge to keep improving our campuses.

And it is answered each day when a volunteer spends time with a

young student, when a teacher stays late grading papers or when a

coach works extra hard to help the team play better.

It is those efforts that guarantee local schools will continue to

bring home awards year after year.