Pictured: The Winona-Montgomery School Board, along with Superintendent of Education, Dr. Howard Savage, Jr., were recognized recently by the Mississippi School Board Association with the Lantern Award and the Torch Award for student achievement. Pictured are (front, from left) Chase DeNoon, Nora Dunn, Brandye Brannon, (back) Pauline Hall, and Dr. Katherine W. Hughes.
The Mississippi School Board Association recognized the Winona-Montgomery School District’s leadership team of the Board of Trustees and Dr. Howard Savage, Jr., at the MSBA Lighthouse School Leader (LHSL) awards during the MSBA Annual Conference this week.
The LHSL Awards Program applauds outstanding student performance on required testing under the state’s accountability system.
The students of Winona-Montgomery School District showed historic growth in last spring’s state assessments – elevating the district’s accountability rating to a B rating which is deemed High Performing in the state’s accountability model.
WMSD’s students achieved some of the highest growth in the state, with Winona Elementary School earning 73 more points than last year and Winona Secondary School earning 61 more points than last year. In addition, the district’s graduation rate increased to 90.5 percent. These factors supported the district’s growth to becoming a high performing school district.
Dr. Savage said, “Our students made tremendous strides this year due to personal accountability, as well as our teachers focusing on rigor, relevance, and providing quality Tier 1 instruction for all. These efforts plus the outstanding support of our parents and community partners have helped propel the district to the highest rating in its history.”
The Winona-Montgomery School District received the Lantern Award, which is given to all schools that are rated a “C” or higher, and the district is in good standing by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Accreditation.
The WMSD also received the Torch Award, which is based on being a “B” rated or high-performing school district, all schools rated a “C” or higher, at least one school rated “B” or above, 90 percent free or reduced lunch, and the district in good standing by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Accreditation.
Dr. Savage continued, “Our ultimate goal is to achieve an ‘A’ rating, and with what I am seeing from our students this year, we are well on our way to the ‘A.’”
For more information, contact Amanda Sexton Ferguson at 662-528-6333 or email amandaferguson@winonaschools.net.