Special Honor for Blue Ribbon School

He has known since May that Meadows Elementary School had won the most prestigious public education award in the nation.

But what former Principal Tim Stephens did not know until Thursday was that the Blue Ribbon designation included a special honor focusing on the school’s professional development strategies.

Excited about the surprising news, which was faxed to him by the U.S. Department of Education, Stephens said he is proud of both his former students and teachers at the nontraditional “meaning-based� school.

Stephens, who retired as principal last year, and two other school representatives will fly to Washington to receive the Blue Ribbon award on Nov. 6. at the White House.

“We’re going to be wined and dined by all the heavyweights,� he joked.

Unlike any other school in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Meadows students begin school 15 minutes earlier four days a week so teachers can have about an extra hour on Tuesdays to concentrate on professional development, Stephens said.

During that time, staff members learn new skills, visit innovative schools in other districts and share books that they had read on “balanced literacy,� where children learn to read and write more effectively.

Meadows is one of six schools nationwide--and the only one in California--to receive the special professional development award.

The main Blue Ribbon honor was awarded to the school in May and rewards the elementary community for its focus on challenging courses, active learning, constructive teaching, high test scores and parental involvement.

Meadows is the first Conejo Valley school and the eighth Ventura County school to win the national award, which began in 1982 and honors elementary schools in odd-numbered years and secondary schools in even-numbered years. Last year, 39 schools won the award nationwide.