Sweet celebrations and a sense of satisfaction fill the air this week in seven Coachella Valley elementary schools that have earned the right to be called distinguished.
Some of the schools, such as Martin Van Buren Elementary in Indio, overcame such challenges as having 80 percent of students considered English learners and nearly all qualifying for subsidized meals, a measure of poverty. Many schools might use such demographics as an excuse. Van Buren uses them as motivation.
“There are no excuses here,” said Principal Melinda Wallace.
We hear that from many of the successful schools.
“The dog ate my homework?” ponders Principal Lynda Lake of Cielo Vista in Palm Springs, another winner. “Wrong.”
Like Cielo Vista, Landau Elementary in Cathedral City uses No Excuses University, a program that emphasizes technology.
All our distinguished schools have innovative programs, a positive attitude, and experienced principals and teachers who have found a way to motivate students and engage their families.
Experience, however, is a key. Two principals of our newly minted distinguished schools — Lynne Keating at Landau and Karen Cornett at Sunny Sands Elementary in Cathedral City — are retiring at the end of the year.
They are among 175 school employees throughout the valley who are taking early retirement.
Sharon McGehee, superintendent at Desert Sands Unified School District, said she was thrilled the district has 125 takers, twice as many as expected.
“I think they (retirees) feel good that they know they're helping out younger colleagues as well as having
