Three schools honored as ‘distinguished’

Three Huntington Beach schools have won California Distinguished School Awards from the California Department of Education.

Circle View, Golden View and Agnes L. Smith elementary schools were three of 377 schools to receive the honor, the highest number ever given.

Of 2,043 elementary schools statewide eligible for the award, 997 went through the extensive application process. The prizes were announced on April 25.

“I’ve served on validation teams as a lead reviewer for many years, as I did this year,” said Mike Luker, the assistant superintendent of human resources for Ocean View School District. “I see the best of the best, so I’m very proud of our three schools.”

Circle View and Golden View schools are part of the Ocean View School District. A third Ocean View school, Star View Elementary in Midway City, also received the award.

“We try to involve the whole community,” said Circle View Principal Pauline Tressler. “Our teachers had some input and parent groups had input” about curriculum and special programs at Smith School.

Tressler said she and a team of teachers worked on the extensive application, making sure to fill the limited number of pages with concise descriptions of the programs they offer.

The Huntington Beach City School District had one of its schools receive the honor. Smith Elementary School Principal Mike Andrzejewski said he and his teachers had been working hard to meet the high expectations of the community.

“I think we are working very hard to look at each individual student’s need at our school,” Andrzejewski said. “We’re working hard to make sure they’re achieving all the standards the state is giving us.”

School administrators credit hardworking teachers and parents as main factors in the school’s success.

“The board of trustees, myself and the [Smith Elementary] staff are absolutely thrilled,” said Huntington Beach City School District Supt. Roberta DeLuca. “It’s such a wonderful honor and a wonderful validation of the great job of the Smith staff and the community.”

The schools will be honored at an awards ceremony and dinner at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim on May 26.

“I always say this is the Academy Awards of education, to be recognized as a California Distinguished School,” DeLuca said.

The honors are given every year, alternating between high schools and elementary schools. Last year, Marine View and Vista View middle schools and Ocean View High School received the award.

Schools are eligible to apply based on their Adequate Yearly Progress and Academic Performance Index results.