State education awards recognize achievements at Stein, Deane in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD – Two local elementary schools – Deane and Stein – were recognized by the state’s 2010 Centers of Excellence program, a Jefferson County Schools spokeswoman announced Thursday.

The recognition also brings a financial award, grants of $30,000 for Stein and $25,000 for Deane. The grants are funded by the Partnership for Great Schools, which is supported by the Gates Family Foundation, the Anschutz Foundation, the Fox Family Foundation and the Piton Foundation.

“It was evident that these school teams own and share the students,” said Tom Gougeon, president of the Gates Family Foundation. “When we visited Deane and Stein there were no excuses and they firmly believed that every child can learn regardless of their background.”

The Centers of Excellence awards were presented by the Colorado Department of Education and recognize the accomplishments of schools serving areas where many residents are temporary with a “high number” of students participating in the free and reduced-price lunch programs, according to the school district spokeswoman.

Only 32 schools in the state were recognized by the program this year. Stein’s award is the school’s second time to win the honor.

The Centers of Excellence awards recognize schools that enroll at least 75 percent of its students from an at-risk population, but which demonstrate the highest rates of student growth in reading, writing and math through the Colorado Growth Model.

“Schools are now being judged on their growth,” said Stein Principal Socorro Alarcon. “Many of our kindergartners have never held a pencil in their hand, but despite the challenges, we are able to help kids achieve and reach grade-level proficiency at the end of the year.”