Pride at Brookside

Brookside Elementary School has been named one of just four Long Island schools to receive the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award, in recognition of its continued success in improving students' performance on the state assessment exams.

Brookside, one of 314 schools nationwide to receive the award, has consistently scored in the top 10 percent on state tests and has shown improvement in its students’ performance over the past six years. School officials will travel to an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 3.

Principal Ivy Sherman said that when she first came to the school seven years ago, she and her staff decided to focus on differentiated instruction techniques, which she said have led to a consistent increase in test scores. Sherman, who will receive the coveted Blue Ribbon flag in Washington, said she was thrilled by the national recognition.

"Oh my god, it's so exciting," she said. "It's a tribute to this community, to this incredible school community ... not just Brookside but all of Baldwin. It wasn't about teachers or me or the central office ... it's about the kids and the community. It just works here."

U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, whose 4th Congressional District includes Baldwin, said, “I am extremely proud of the students and faculty at the Brookside Elementary School. As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I have the great privilege of learning about schools both locally and nationally. The future of this country depends on the success of our children, and I look forward to hearing many more wonderful things about the Brookside Elementary School students in the near future.”

For more information on the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, visit the U.S. Department of Education Web site, www.ed.gov.