Springfield Elementary Principal Jeff Kuehn and Minnesota Commissioner of Education Dr. Brenda Cassellius watch as students perform in song.

Springfield Elementary is ‘Reward School’ One of 44 Minnesota schools to earn honor 4 times

Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Brenda Cassellius, visited Springfield Elementary School on March 22 on her statewide tour of all schools that have received Reward School designation either four or five times. The visit lasted a little over an hour and the purpose was for Commissioner Cassellius to learn why Springfield has achieved so much success in our students and our school. She also hopes to share what she learned in Springfield with other schools throughout the state. 

“Congratulations, Springfield Elementary, this is such an incredible honor,” said Commissioner Cassellius, as she addressed the assembly. “Many schools have reached Reward School status, but Springfield Elementary is among the rare few to achieve this goal for four consecutive years,” she said.   Out of 2,000 Minnesota schools only 44 have been Reward Schools four or more times. 

Springfield was the last of those top schools visited.

“She saved the best for last,” Elementary Principal Jeff Kuehn told students, staff and visitors who welcomed the commissioner during a program in the school’s performing arts auditorium.

A Reward School is in the top 15 percent of Title I schools based on the MMR (Multiple Measurements Rating) given to all schools in the state on an annual basis that measures school performance in the areas of proficiency, growth, achievement gap reduction and graduation rates. Reward Schools represent the highest-performing schools on the four domains in the MMR based on academic assessments and focus ratings.  Only 15 percent of schools receive this rating each year. Currently, the reward for these schools mainly comes through public recognition. Schools are also measured on academic growth, making it an even higher challenge to receive the award multiple years.

The celebration opened with the Springfield High School Pep Band leading a rousing Tiger Pride cheer, followed by the fourth and fifth-grade classes singing a special song, Country Roads, made famous by John Denver, with a few changes in the lyrics to fit our community. 

 Several students read essays they wrote about things they like about their school. The readers were third-grader Skyla Dauer; fourthgraders Sam Rummel and Bryn Gordon, fifth-graders Jordyn Plaster and Wyatt Schmidt, and sixth-grader Sydne Wahl.  

The school staff — teachers, paraprofessionals, secretary, custodial and food service workers — shared their “best likes” about the school in a video.

Students who have exemplified the Tiger Way — by being respectful, responsible and safe — presented the Heart of the Tiger Award to Commissioner Cassellius for all that she does across the State of Minnesota and the world of education, and specifically for our Springfield school.  

 “I am so honored to hear about your school and to learn about all the great things that are happening here,” Commissioner Cassellius responded. 

“It takes strong leadership to have a great school and a great community,” Commissioner Cassellius said.  “I also know that it takes a lot of adults in a school building to create conditions in which children thrive and be successful.” She asked all school personnel to stand to be recognized whether they were paraprofessionals, counselor, media specialist, school secretary, custodial staff, teachers or administrators.  “None of us would be here without a great teacher or support staff to help us be successful,” she added.

Commissioner Cassellius also recognized community that “has been incredibly supportive in passing the operating levy, providing iPads, the beautiful gym you have, and the many gifts that you have given the children so that they have a wonderful space to learn in a wonderful community.   It’s an amazing, amazing dedication.”

 “I had a wonderful visit today,” said the Commissioner.  “I know it was a short visit but I learned so much from your school principal, from your teachers, from your video and from your essays and from the wonderful things you said about ‘feeling like a family.’  During my visits to Reward Schools, the number one thing they tell me is that they feel like a family.   They feel like everybody supports each other — the students support one another and teachers support one another, and nobody is allowed to fail.” 

“The second thing I hear all the time is how wonderful the students are,” Commissioner Cassellius continued.  “It’s about how hard students work every day to do their best. When I met with your superintendent, he told me that ‘We have really high expectations and everybody gives their 100% here and they do their best.’  I think that is why you’re doing so well here.  Your school is like a family — you’re doing your best and you support each other in respectful and responsible ways.” 

Principal Kuehn thanked Commissioner Cassellius for her visit and then challenged the students to do their best in the upcoming spring testing.  “Four times guys. That’s just a start. Let’s keep it going,” he said.  “Now, at the end of March and as we approach April, is the the time when we hit our stride.  Now is the time when we get that game face on and attack the test. We will show what Tiger Pride is all about!”   

The program concluded with a resounding Tiger cheer!  

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