The Ventnor Elementary School has been named a New Jersey Blue Ribbon School for Closing the Achievement Gap, a prestigious recognition aligned to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue-Ribbon Schools Program. The award celebrates schools that demonstrate steady, measurable progress in narrowing academic disparities among student subgroups.
“This recognition reflects years of focused work by our educators, students, and families,” Superintendent and Elementary School Principal Carmela Somershoe Ed.D. said in a release. “Ventnor Elementary has proven that when a school community sets a clear vision and supports teachers with the right tools, the achievement gap can close. By using data to personalize instruction, expanding interventions, and strengthening social emotional learning, our students are thriving. We are proud of this recognition and even prouder of the opportunities it reflects for our students.”
Ventnor Superintendent of Schools Carmela Somershoe
Ventnor Elementary attributes its progress to a set of evidence based practices implemented over multiple years, including:
- Data informed instruction, with regular progress monitoring and responsive small group teaching in literacy and mathematics.
- NJ Tiered supports offering timely interventions during the school day and extended learning options before/after school.
- Culturally responsive teaching with curriculum and classroom practices that build on students’ strengths and backgrounds.
- Social-emotional learning that employs the Nurtured Heart Approach and daily instruction in social-emotional learning
- Language development supports offering strategies that accelerate growth for multilingual learners.
- Family partnerships and ongoing communication, tools and resources that help families support learning at home.
“Ventnor’s educators see potential in every child and meet them where they are,” Board of Education President Doug Biagi said. “This award affirms the progress our community sees every day.”
The National Blue-Ribbon Schools Program, established in 1982, honors public and nonpublic schools for overall academic excellence or for closing achievement gaps among student groups. Schools are nominated by state education departments and selected by the U.S. Department of Education.
This year, the federal government entrusted the states with presenting this award. The school will be formally recognized during the New Jersey State Board of Education’s November.
Learn more at www.veccnj.org
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