San Bernardino School District Receives State Recognition

State schools chief Tom Torlakson last month recognized the Board of Education of the San Bernardino City Unified School District and Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden for their work to create positive learning environments for middle school students. The California Department of Education, in partnership with the California Middle Grades Alliance, honored the District at a ceremony in Sacramento. The honor goes to governing boards and superintendents who show leadership in providing policy, resources, and organizational support to middle schools and foster positive and productive middle grades learning environments for students and staff. In recent years, the District has focused increased resources to boost learning at its 10 middle schools because research shows the years between elementary school and high school are crucial to student success. “Our Board and I are proud to be working together toward our common goal of ensuring student success and closing the achievement gap for all students,” Marsden said. “When school boards and superintendents work collaboratively, we can make hope happen for all our students.” The California Middle Grades Alliance selected award recipients based on criteria that included how effectively the board and superintendent work together and use the California Department of Education’s 12 Recommendations for Middle Grades Success to ensure high performance and close the achievement gap for all middle grade students. The alliance is comprised of a broad spectrum of organizations, including the California Department of Education, the California School Boards Association, California State Parent Teacher Association, and the California Teachers Association.