Blue Ribbon schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) are to be used as a role model of best teaching practices following visits by U.S. Department of Education representatives February 9-11. The national team will work with RMC Research Corporation on this project.

Department officials will spend three days at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School, which received Blue Ribbon status this year.  They will interview teachers, curriculum staff, members of the school leadership team and students; observe classroom teaching; and create audio recordings and photos to be placed on the department Web site. 

On February 10, Aba S. Kumi, director of the national Blue Ribbon Schools Program, and her supervisor, Will Tanner, senior director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Recognition Programs, will tour four other Blue Ribbon schools in the district:  Forest Heights Academy of Excellence, Glasgow Middle, Shenandoah Elementary and Westdale Heights Academic Magnet schools.

Sherwood Middle School is one of the 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools to be profiled across the United States for the national Web site program.  “One of the main purposes of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program is to share information about highly successful schools with schools throughout the nation,” Kumi said.  “By providing information on some of the best schools, we hope to encourage other schools to provide the same quality of education you provide for your students.”
 
The U.S. Department of Education is creating audio portraits of a small number of 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools.  The audio recordings made at a school will be coupled with photographs and brief written descriptions about school context and key practices to create the finished audio portrait.  For more information, contact Kumi at (202) 401-1767 or Aba.Kumi@ed.gov.