The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) recently named Parkside School in Wautoma as a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished School. Parkside is one of only 100 schools throughout the United States that will be recognized for exceptional achievement for their work serving diverse student populations during the National ESEA Conference in Portland, OR, from Feb. 7-10.
To be selected for this national honor, Parkside was nominated by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the school’s excellence in serving special populations of students, which includes homeless, migrant, and English Learners. Since the award's inception, only two other schools in the entire State of Wisconsin have been awarded this national honor.
“To be recognized at the national level is a tremendous honor not only for Parkside School, but for the Wautoma Area School District and the community. We are well-aware the progress and achievement made by our students is attributed to not only the hard work and dedication of our students and staff, but also the positive partnerships and engagement we have with our families and community,” said District Administrator Jewel Mucklin. “We wish to extend our appreciation to all of our community members and invite you to share in this accomplishment with us.”
The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is NAESPA’s way of publicly acknowledging the exemplary work of schools from across the country that utilize ESEA funds to improve the achievement levels of disadvantaged children. The program honors federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students and highlights the efforts of schools across the country that make significant improvements for their students.