School District In Santa Clara County Honored

SAN JOSE, CA —Evergreen School District in San Jose was honored Wednesday evening as the first California Exemplary District in Santa Clara County, according to the county's office of education.

The Exemplary Districts Award celebrates districts that have implemented practices, which have had a positive impact on students, county officials said.

One school was required to be a part of the California Distinguished Schools list this year in order for the district to win the award, but Evergreen School District had two, which were Carolyn A. Clark Elementary School and Tom Matsumoto Elementary School.

"Every county in California was asked to identify and select one district for this prestigious award," county Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Dewan said in a statement. "It gives me great pleasure to recognize
Evergreen School District."

Claudia Rossi, Santa Clara County Board of Education trustee, said that all of Evergreen School District's eighteen schools have been California Distinguished schools, which means their programs and practices are
outstanding.

"Evergreen offers full-day kindergarten as a strategy to help close achievement gaps, they have launched a parent university to support families and have high stakeholder engagement," Rossi said.

Dan Deguara, assistant superintendent of Evergreen School District, and other district officials were present Wednesday evening at the gathering put on by the county's board of education to accept the award for
district Superintendent Kathy Gomez, according to county officials.

"Programs like the California Exemplary Districts Award allow our county an opportunity to celebrate and collaborate," Dewan said. "As educators, we are all members of one community, and together we can learn
from one another and share our innovative practices."

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock