Tri-Valley Middle School receives National Blue Ribbon award

Posted on September 27, 2019
Tri-Valley Middle School located at 505 E Washington St. in Downs. (Photo courtesy www.tri-valley3.org)

 

By Neil Doyle

DOWNS – Tri-Valley Middle School is being recognized for a national award.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos named Tri-Valley a National Blue Ribbon school Thursday. The annual award recognized 362 schools nationally.

Tri-Valley Middle School Principal Brandi Maxedon said it was special to be one of 25 schools picked in Illinois, and the only middle school selected in the state.

“That was exciting and I think rewarding because it kind of validated what we do here in our building,” said Maxedon.  “Our staff really focuses on the whole child, and not just the academics, but the social-emotional learning side of things for kids at the middle school age.”

This is the second National Blue Ribbon award for the Downs school.

“As a National Blue Ribbon School, your school demonstrates what is possible when committed educators hold all students and staff to high standards and create vibrant, innovative cultures of teaching and learning,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a news release.

All schools selected for the award will be recognized in November by the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…