EDITORIAL:Learning guided by strong principal

In the ongoing debate over illegal immigration, it is often noted that the schools on the Westside of Costa Mesa are directly suffering from the influx of non-English-speaking children.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District officials have long sought remedies to this ongoing educational challenge, but in the future they need only look to one of their own — Victoria Elementary School Principal Judy Laakso.

Laakso, along with Kaiser Elementary Principal Stacy Holmes, was presented with the county’s outstanding contribution to education award this year for her work improving the academics and test scores at that school.

With nearly half its students classified as low income, Victoria is a Title I school, which allows the school to receive federal funding.

Other schools in the district are also classified Title I, but we’d be hard-pressed to find the same success as Victoria.

Last year, Victoria students scored 828 points out of 1,000 on the all-important statewide Academic Performance Index. No other Title I school in Newport-Mesa scored as high.

And a year ago May, the school made history by being the first to win distinguished school and Title I academic achievement awards. It was the second distinguished school award for Laakso and Victoria, which has also managed to stay off the federal Program Improvement list.

Considering the odds and obstacles faced, these distinctions are no small feat. While other schools continue to struggle with the basics and the chore of bringing test scores up, Victoria is a shining example of success with its combination of top-notch teachers and parental involvement.

Laakso deserves much credit and praise for her leadership and vision in guiding Victoria to these heights.

And with the challenges to education continuing to mount everywhere, we need more principals like her.