State Declares 9 Area Schools ‘Distinguished’

In a statewide announcement that touched off celebrations on campuses from Thousand Oaks to Ventura, nine Ventura County elementary schools Tuesday were awarded the coveted designation of California Distinguished School.

“Is this for real?” Principal Rachelle Morga of Westlake Hills elementary in Thousand Oaks screamed upon hearing the news. “I can hardly stand myself!”

The annual competition evaluates schools across the state for teaching, parent involvement, technology use and other standards. This year’s competition focused on elementary schools; and of 598 schools that applied, 211 received the award. In Ventura County, 32 schools applied.

County winners are Glenwood, Park Oaks and Westlake Hills schools in Thousand Oaks; Hollow Hills Fundamental School in Simi Valley; Tierra Linda School in Camarillo; Santa Paula’s Grace S. Thille School; Marina West and Norma Harrington schools in Oxnard, and Poinsettia elementary in Ventura.

The awards do not include money, but officials say the competition is stiff--for the state recognition can influence everything from home prices to principals’ careers.

“It is a wonderful, positive thing recognizing hard work,” said Carol Kennedy, a state education official. “Even more intriguing, the Realtors are eager to receive this information. They say it increases property values.”

Some principals, meanwhile, use the Distinguished School status to bolster their resumes and move up the administrative ladder, Kennedy said.

Ventura County school leaders called the awards a reflection of parental and community support.

At Poinsettia, for instance, Principal Nancy Bradford said the school’s record of parent participation may have put it in the winner’s circle. Of the 530 children in kindergarten through fifth grade, 380--or about 70%--have parents who work or volunteer there. Parents teach astronomy classes, run fund-raisers and head after-school programs.

“We love having the extra hands of parents to educate the kids,” Bradford said.

And at Marina West School, Principal Peter Chapa cited efforts to reach out to an increasing number of Latino families. In recent years, the school has established a committee of Latino parents, even offering some parents literacy courses and computer training.

Meanwhile, at Park Oaks School, officials said their after-school reading program sets them apart: The school’s 640 students have read for a combined 33,000 hours so far this year.

“Language arts is our strong suit,” Park Oaks Principal Leean Nemeroff said. “It’s the greatest gift education can give a child.”

The focus is similar at Grace S. Thille School, a language-arts magnet school that stresses reading, writing and creativity.

“This is the kind of school where we’re excited to come to work every day,” said Katie Miller, a kindergarten and first-grade teacher. “It’s like a gift to work here.”

Principal Dianne Quimby-Anders of Tierra Linda School cited the school’s “life lab”--a garden in which students studying science grow vegetables and flowers. “It’s a hands-on learning environment,” she said.

And at Norma Harrington School, Principal Ron D’Incau said the school’s use of the state’s Healthy Start program won attention. In partnership with several schools, Harrington bought dental equipment and recruited local dentists to provide free clinics to needy children.

The schools applied for the recognition last fall. After narrowing the pool, state officials visited the campuses.

Chi is a Times staff writer and Engardio is a correspondent.