Springboard News

Springboard Schools Celebrates Educational Excellence at Annual Awards Gala

Education leaders from across California to be honored

Though it sometimes doesn’t seem like it, there are many success stories in California’s Schools. Every year, Springboard Schools, a nonprofit, non-partisan networks of educators working to improve schools, honors California’s districts, schools, and individualswho have shown outstanding accomplishment in improving education in the state. This year’s Awards Gala will be held June 8, 2006 at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria.

The Springboard Awards are unique in that they are based on evaluations of the schools and districts. Looking at achievement data shows that these schools and districts are making great gains, but not through super-human efforts. Instead, they are implementing best practices that any school or district can adopt – and any school or district can show similar gains in student achievement, narrowing of the achievement gap, and using inquiry as a tool for improvement, from the boardroom to the classroom.

The schools and districts being recognized at the Annual Awards Gala are not wealthy – to the contrary, they have large populations of students learning English and with low family incomes. Where these schools and districts are rich is in their dedicated education leaders who are determined that every student in every school has a successful school career, and is ready for college or the workplace upon graduation. These education leaders are leading the way to successful California schools, working in Sacramento, in district and school offices, and in classrooms across the state.

The event, hosted by  Samantha Mohr, CBS 5 Chief Meteorologist, includes cocktails, a gourmet dinner, and entertainment by VOENA, the internationally acclaimed, multi-ethnic children's choir from Benicia. Assembly-member Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) will provide the keynote presentation.

Recognizing California districts, schools and individuals, these awards will be presented:

• Inquiry Award
  Exeter Public Schools
  Sponsored by John and Regina Scully
• Equity Award
  Reedley High School, Kings Canyon USD
  Sponsored by Wells Fargo
• Achievement Award
  Sanger Unified School District
  Sponsored by Applied Materials
• Education Leader of the Year
  State Senator Joe Simitian
  Sponsored by AT&T

This event is expected to draw over 200 attendees. California educators are invited to attend at no cost.

For more information call 415 348-5526 or visit www.SpringboardSchools.org

This event is made possible by the generous support of these sponsors:

AT&T, Applied Materials, Well Fargo, John and Regina Scully, Bill and Mary Poland, Thomas C. Schneider, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, ETS, LightSPEED Technologies, San Francisco Business Times, and small potatoes catering, among others.

 

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About Springboard Schools

Springboard Schools is a California-based nonprofit and non-partisan network of educators and others committed to raising student achievement and narrowing the achievement gap. Springboard was founded in 1995 as the Bay Area School Reform Collaborative (BASRC).

Since that time Springboard has worked with 325 schools in 74 school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Southern California. In 2001, researchers based at Stanford University’s Center for Research on the Context of Teaching found that achievement in Springboard (then BASRC) schools rose at a faster rate than in a carefully-matched comparison group of schools, and that those schools that implemented the program with most fidelity made the greatest gains.

For more information about Springboard Schools and this study, visit our website at www.SpringboardSchools.org or call 415 348-5500.