FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008
CONTACT
Lisa McVey, Communications & Community Relations Liaison, 610-869-2441, ext. 1019
AVON GROVE SCHOOLS RECEIVE KEYSTONE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FROM PA DEPT. OF ED
West Grove, PA — All four Avon Grove School District schools received Keystone Achievement Awards from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for demonstrating sustained academic progress. The awards were presented to public schools that achieved adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school years.
Progress is measured in part by a school's performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, the standardized test given annually to students in grades 3-8 and 11.
Each school that earns a Keystone Achievement Award receives a large, keystone-shaped placard to be displayed at the school.
Avon Grove School District Superintendent Dr. Augustus J. Massaro presented the Keystone Awards to district and school administrators, teacher representatives, association representatives, and Board members at the January 10, 2008, meeting of the Board of School Directors.
"Not everyone can be here tonight to be recognized, but I want everyone to know that this achievement was a collective effort," said Dr. Massaro. "We are proud of our students and applaud the hard work of our teachers, staff, and administrators. Parents, school volunteers, and Board members
— all the members of our school community can take pride in this accomplishment. Every individual plays a role in helping our students achieve.”
Since 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Federal Program Coordinators to present the Keystone Awards as a public recognition of the quality work and commitment shown by students and educators.
"If there is one award that a school should proudly show off to visitors, it is the Keystone Achievement Award," said PA Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak in a press release. "It is proof to all who visit the school that they are an institution that cares about ensuring every child succeeds."
The federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires Pennsylvania to evaluate all public schools and districts annually for AYP based on the results of the PSSA and other factors, including test participation, attendance and graduation. NCLB requires states to set gradually increasing proficiency levels in order to reach 100 percent student proficiency by 2014.
Penn London Elementary School
Pictured Below: Superintendent Dr. Augustus J. Massaro congratulates teacher Jeanne Moore after presenting the Keystone Achievement Award to Moore and Marie DiGiulio, Principal at Penn London Elementary School; Gail Peck, Assistant Principal; and teachers Sue Feaster and Mary Teresa Maule Alft. Penn London, a K-2 school, is considered a feeder school according to PDE's assessment criteria. PSSA test scores for the district's third-graders count towards Penn London's AYP rating.
Pictured below: Pictured with their Keystone Achievement Award are Penn London Elementary School teachers Sue Feaster, Mary Teresa Maule Alft, and Jeanne Moore; Principal Marie DiGiulio; and Assistant Principal Gail Peck. They are joined by Dr. Margaret Sharp, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, Superintendent; Cynthia Hoover, Supervisor of Special Education; Dr. Margaret O'Grady, Supervisor of Pupil Services; Dale Lauver, Supervisor of Building and Grounds; Bob Muehlbach, President of the Avon Grove Education Association; Victor Mantegna, President of the Avon Grove Education Support Personnel Association; Lynn Klingensmith, President of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors; Robert Weidenmuller, Vice President of the Board; and Board members Debra L'Heureux, William Pew, Dennis Gerber, Daniel Black, Bonnie Wolff, and Pattie Lyons.
Avon Grove Intermediate School
Pictured below: Lynn Klingensmith, president of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors, presents the Keystone Achievement Award to Denise Schrum, AGIS Principal; Carol Bove, AGIS Principal; Cheryl Joyner, learning support teacher; Dianna Trainor, reading coach; and Kate Boyle, mathematics coach.
Pictured below holding thier Keystone Achievement Award: Denise Schrum, AGIS Principal; Carol Bove, AGIS Principal; Cheryl Joyner, learning support teacher; Dianna Trainor, reading coach; and Kate Boyle, mathematics coach. They are joined by Dr. Margaret Sharp, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, Superintendent; Elizabeth Julian, Food Service Director; Linda Simasek, District Network Administrator; Cynthia Hoover, Supervisor of Special Education; Dr. Margaret O'Grady, Supervisor of Pupil Services; Dale Lauver, Supervisor of Building and Grounds; Bob Muehlbach, President of the Avon Grove Education Association; Victor Mantegna, President of the Avon Grove Education Support Personnel Association; Lynn Klingensmith, President of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors; Robert Weidenmuller, Vice President of the Board; and Board members Debra L'Heureux, William Pew, Dennis Gerber, Daniel Black, Bonnie Wolff, and Pattie Lyons.
Fred S. Engle Middle School
Pictured below: Robert Fraser, principal of Fred S. Engle Middle School; Angela Houghton, assistant principal; and Denise Ciancia, reading specialist, with FSEMS's Keystone Achievement Award.
Pictured below: Robert Fraser, Principal of Fred S. Engle Middle School; Angela Houghton, Assistant Principal; and Denise Ciancia, reading specialist; and Janet Donegan, literacy coach hold FSEMS's Keystone Achievement Award. They are joined by Dr. Margaret Sharp, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, Superintendent; Elizabeth Julian, Food Service Director; Linda Simasek, District Network Administrator; Cynthia Hoover, Supervisor of Special Education; Dr. Margaret O'Grady, Supervisor of Pupil Services; Dale Lauver, Supervisor of Building and Grounds; Bob Muehlbach, President of the Avon Grove Education Association; Victor Mantegna, President of the Avon Grove Education Support Personnel Association; Lynn Klingensmith, President of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors; Robert Weidenmuller, Vice President of the Board; and Board members Debra L'Heureux, William Pew, Dennis Gerber, Daniel Black, Bonnie Wolff, and Pattie Lyons.
Avon Grove High School
Pictured below: Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, superintendent, and Lynn Klingensmith, president of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors, present the Keystone Achievement Award to Tom Alexander, principal of Avon Grove High School.
Pictured below: AGHS teachers Rich Scott-Harper Bonnie McCloskey, and Cara Serpico display the school's Keystone Achievement Award. They are joined by Tom Alexander, Principal; Assistant Principals Gary Benasutti, Jane Hershberger, Christopher Matsanka, and Mike Snopkowski; Dr. Margaret Sharp, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction; Dr. Augustus J. Massaro, Superintendent; Elizabeth Julian, Food Service Director; Linda Simasek, District Network Administrator; Cynthia Hoover, Supervisor of Special Education; Dr. Margaret O'Grady, Supervisor of Pupil Services; Dale Lauver, Supervisor of Building and Grounds; Bob Muehlbach, President of the Avon Grove Education Association; Victor Mantegna, President of the Avon Grove Education Support Personnel Association; Lynn Klingensmith, President of the Avon Grove Board of School Directors; Robert Weidenmuller, Vice President of the Board; and Board members Debra L'Heureux, William Pew, Dennis Gerber, Daniel Black, Bonnie Wolff, and Pattie Lyons.
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Avon Grove School District serves a rapidly growing area of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The District includes four schools: Penn London Elementary School, Avon Grove Intermediate School, Fred S. Engle Middle School, and Avon Grove High School.
Posted:
January 17, 2008 1:40 PM
