Lee Elementary Thriving In Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — Congratulations are in order for the Los Alamitos School District, particularly at the Lee Elementary School. That school has the honor of being among top schools in state English, math results. Students at Lee Elementary have made great strides in academic achievement over the past two years and now rank near the top among Orange County schools, Principal Amy Laughlin told a meeting of the of the Los Alamitos Unified School District board.

In the latest round of state tests in English language arts and math, 88 percent of students in grades 3-5 met or exceeded state English language arts standards, placing the school third in Orange County, and 83 percent met or exceeded math standards, fourth best in the county. Every grade level posted two-year gains in both subjects with the largest in 4 th grade where students jumped 24 percentage points in English and 22 points in math.

“We are very proud of these results. These kids are rockin’ it,” said Laughlin, who is in her third year as Lee principal.

Laughlin said the school staff is working with a “growth mindset” and looking for ways to continue the growth in academic achievement.

The school conducts monthly teacher development training sessions on a variety of topics and strategies. Laughlin said the school also is also using a combination of intervention methods to help bolster achievement: “push-in” intervention, in which additional teachers work in a classroom with small groups of students, reading lab intervention to reinforce critical language skills, and math and reading support sessions held before and after school.

At the board meeting, Laughlin also honored Lee’s Hero of the Heart — Maria Barcelo, who grew up near the school, whose four children all attended the school and who has been a volunteer at Lee for 16 years.

Laughlin said Barcelo has been a room parent and a liaison with community business to arrange fundraising nights. She also has opened her home for fundraising events, Laughlin said, as well as founding and continuing to organize the annual Lee Spelling Bee.

Barcelo is the “finest example of a FamiLEE community member,” Laughlin told the board. “She is a woman of generosity and integrity. She models the character traits we work so hard to teach our children. She is a true gift to our school and community.” Laughlin praised Barcelo’s commitment to ensuring that all students are engaged, connected and happy. “You are a true hero of the heart.”

In accepting the honor, Barcelo said the Lee teachers and staff are “so dedicated and supportive and love their students.” She described how the school and the school district have provided many opportunities for her children and said she recently has begun working as a substitute teacher so she can “continue helping kids and give back to the district that has given so much to our family.”

Original Article with Robert Ostmann, Los Alamitos Unified School District