Local School Honored by State
May 20, 2009
C/O Index Journal
Merrywood Elementary School has been named a Red Carpet winner for the 2009 school year — one of 41 winners from more than 200 applications.
The Red Carpet Award is given out annually by the state Department of Education to schools that excel at creating a family-friendly environment and providing excellent customer service.
“Schools that are parent-friendly, schools that have strong customer service, are more likely to be supported by their communities,” Rex said. “Community involvement can play a big part in a school’s academic success. This year’s Red Carpet winners understand and strive for that.”
Merrywood principal Debra Green said the award recognizes the effort all of the faculty and staff put into communication with each other, parents and the community.
“We are so ecstatic,” she said. “We work hard at making sure our customers, which are our parents and students, are satisfied with everything we do here.”
One primary school, 30 elementary schools, six middle schools, two high schools, one charter school, one technical school and one learning center for special needs brought home the award this year. Merrywood was the only one in the Lakelands to receive the honor.
The process starts with a lengthy written application that includes the school’s communication plan, family-friendly philosophies and the tools and methods used to self-evaluate the process.
Merrywood teachers Tara Ramsey and Noonie Fennell, who were instrumental in preparing the application, said the school has a number of tools to reach out to parents and the community. Parents receive newsletters from the school and individual teachers, each teacher has a Web site that stays current with important classroom information, and there is an internal e-mail system to keep faculty and staff on the same page.
Green said she also solicits donations from area businesses, including gift cards and other treats to use as rewards for student and teacher performance, which makes companies feel invested in the school.
“The whole process was very self-reflecting,” Fennell said.
Schools that passed the written application phase were then screened by independent judges, who rated how telephone callers and visitors were treated. Judges did not identify themselves during telephone calls or site visits, and site visits were not announced in advance.
Green, Fennell and Ramsey said they don’t know who their judge was, but it doesn’t matter because every visitor to the school is treated the same way.
“Research shows parent involvement in the school is critical to a students’ success … We want them to buy into what we’re doing,” Fennell said.
In the end, excellent customer service is in the students’ best interest, Ramsey said.
“The way we look at it, this is a public school and we take everyone that comes through the door and every child is important. … We have a genuine interest in seeing that student succeed,” she said.
