Ritchie Elementary School Celebrated in Washington, D.C. as National Blue Ribbon School
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WHEELING -- Representatives from Ritchie Elementary School and Ohio County Schools made the trip to Washington D.C. on Thursday and Friday to be honored along with the other National Blue Ribbon Schools across the country.
Ritchie was named a Blue Ribbon School in September, joining 352 other schools across the country in recognition of being among the top learning sites in America. Of the 353, only three were from West Virginia -- Ritchie, Jayenne Elementary in Fairmont and Sherman Elementary School in Boone County.
"It's one of the proudest experiences I've ever had," said Ritchie Principal John Jorden, who attended the two-day event with Ritchie teacher Diane Hasson and Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller. "It was just amazing to be with so many of the top schools in the country."
The recognition, which comes from the United States Department of Education, is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments.
Jorden, Hasson and Miller spent Thursday sitting in on various roundtables discussing the education landscape, and the main ceremony was held Friday.
"They talked a lot about schools and community involvement," Jorden said. "We're very fortunate at Ritchie to have strong community involvement - our PTO, our community partners in education, our reading tutors are all amazing. They talked about the expression that it takes a village to raise a child and, when they spoke, it put me in mind of Ritchie."
Jorden said the school continues to be in "celebration mode" after being named a National Blue Ribbon School. The school's PTO put together a Blue Ribbon float for Friday's Fantasy In Lights Parade and there have been plenty of "Wear Blue" days.
Miller has experienced this before as a principal. She was the head of Woodsdale Elementary School in 2014 when that school earned National Blue Ribbon status, the last time an Ohio County school achieved the honor. She said it felt great to see another school experience that success and the accolades that come with it.
"It meant a lot to see another school receive this type of a prestigious award," she said. "It's unbelievable. Each year, the best of the best in the country is right there.
"They spent a lot of time talking about different techniques and how children should have an exceptional education," she added. "And it makes me feel good that one of our schools is being recognized for the things they're doing every day with their kids."