From left: Susanne Smith, Executive Director of Title I; Jennifer Burns, Renaissance Learning; Pam Klos, Lawrence principal; Denise Seguine, Chief Academic Officer; Alicia Thompson, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools and Barb Fuller, Board of Education. Photo by Michael Smith

Lawrence receives national recognition for reading
Lawrence Elementary was awarded the highest recognition for outstanding performance in reading. The school received Master School Certification in Reading by Renaissance Learning for the school’s use of Accelerated Reader. Lawrence had a celebration on April 30 to mark the school’s accomplishment. A representative from Renaissance Learning presented principal Pam Klos with a certificate for their achievement.

“We have achieved a great accomplishment,” Klos said. “This says so much about our teachers and our students and how they worked hard to reach their goal.”

The school staff set a goal back in August to receive Master School Certification. To achieve this status, all second- through fifth-grade students had to read books on their reading level for 18 weeks and score 90 percent or higher on all of the quizzes about the books. Lawrence reached their goal in February and was the first school in the country to achieve Master School Certification this school year.

The Accelerated Reader program allows students to set reading goals and to choose books that are on their own reading level. The students are tested over the books they read and work towards advancing their skills to the next level.

In 2007, Lawrence and its successful reading program were recognized in the May 2007 issue of Extraordinary Educators.



May 2, 2008