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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — Founded in 2016
SCHOOL TO WATCH Judson receives state, national recognition Published Feb. 14, 2021
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ongratulations to Judson STEAM Academy! They have been selected as a Texas School to Watch. Principal Melanie Pondant announced the designation in the Judson staff meeting Tuesday morning, Feb. 2. “We received this honor because of the hard work you are doing every day,” Principal Pondant said. “You are making a difference in your students’ lives and this school is better because you are here.” The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform and the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) as part of a national recognition program have designated Judson STEAM Academy, and Longview ISD as a Texas School to Watch! Judson Steam Academy joins approximately 50 other campuses across Texas with this distinction and honor. During the regular board meeting on Monday, Feb. 8, Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox praised Judson STEAM Academy for earning recognition as a “Texas School to Watch” by TASSP. “Judson STEAM Academy has made great strides in the last several years, and
we’re excited about what the future holds,” he said. “This honor is a testament to the high-quality staff at Judson, as well as our hard-working teachers, students, and incredibly supportive LISD families.” Principal Pondant PONDANT said her campus will be honored in March at the Making Middle School Matter Symposium in Austin and will receive national recognition during the June 26-29 National Forum Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, D.C. Judson teacher Ms. Amy Bruyere, who is new to Longview ISD, said the commitment to reach all students sets it apart. “I think they do a really good job here of targeting our students who are learning at all different levels — our students who come from different cultures, our students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds,” she said. “I think here, there’s a lot of attention placed on what can we do to reach each one of those groups at whatever level that needs to be, and I see that in academic and social and
all kinds of different ways that we try to reach out to students.” The Schools to Watch program was developed in 1999, aiming to identify the middle schools across the country that were displaying academic excellence and a commitment to helping all students achieve. The Schools to Watch selection process is based on a written application that requires schools to show how they met criteria developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by state teams, which observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, students, and parents, and looked at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons, and student work. Schools are recognized for three years, and at the end of three years, they must demonstrate progress on specific goals to be re-designated. Unlike the Blue-Ribbon recognition program, “Schools to Watch” requires schools to not just identify strengths, but to also focus on areas of continuous improvement; thus, the three-year re-designation.
FILM |Continued from page 4 View Film club wasn’t going to allow the adversity of virtual learning and a global pandemic to stop them from their goals,” Graves stated. “And the community can see the award-winning results on screen and know we are doing great and special things at LHS.” The film tells a story of a mother and daughter, isolated in
the woods; they attempt to survive while a dangerous presence lurks near and threatens to tear them apart. The film was influenced by both fairy tales and thrillers, with Mr. Graves stating that the students wanted to tell a story that felt familiar but had a twist. To watch the award-winning video, go to https://bit.ly/38aGWcc.
