Oak Forest's Kerkstra Elementary Earns Blue Ribbon Designation

An Oak Forest school has landed among the finest in the state, as one of only 16 to attain Blue Ribbon status.

Kerkstra Elementary School, 14950 Laramie Ave., joins the elite ranks of 335 schools across the nation to receive the designation by the U.S. Education Department. The award recognizes overall academic excellence or significant improvement in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

Forest Ridge School District 142 Superintendent Paul McDermott attributed the award to improvements and the work of the staff at the first- through fifth-grade school. He called the success that of the school’s former principal, Lori Leppert. Leppert held the role from 2004 to 2014 before becoming the director of pupil personnel services for the school’s District 142. Leppert strove to adjust the curriculum and inspire students to set personal goals at a young age, such as asking second graders where they want to attend college.

“You get them to think in terms of wanting to do more,” she told the Daily Southtown.

Kerkstra and all other award recipients will be recognized Nov. 9 and 10 in Washington, D.C. Kerkstra is one of 285 public schools, 50 private recognized with the award. Each will receive a flag denoting its Blue Ribbon status.