Littleton Public Schools was recently presented with 14 awards from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). In addition to eight John Irwin School of Excellence Awards, four Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards and the English Language Proficiency Act (ELPA) Excellence Award, LPS earned the rating of “Accredited with Distinction” for the sixth consecutive time. LPS is one of only seven school districts in the state, and the only school district in the Denver metro area, to have received this rating every year since its creation.

This year, only 25 districts were “Accredited with Distinction,” placing LPS among the top of all school districts in the state. To receive this rating, CDE states that, “Districts Accredited with Distinction have earned 80% or more of possible points on the District Performance Frameworks. The District Performance Frameworks measure student performance in academic achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps and post-secondary and workforce readiness.” At the most recent LPS Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Brian Ewert said, “The district’s accreditation rating is a testament to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of all LPS staff, students and parents. We will display this award proudly.”

LPS also received the ELPA Excellence Award. Created as part of a 2014 Bill amending the English Language Proficiency Act, the ELPA Excellence Award honors districts and schools that achieved the highest growth among English learners in an English Language Proficiency Program and that achieve the highest academic achievement for English learners who transition out of an English Language Proficiency Program. LPS is one of only 10 districts and 10 schools to receive this award in 2016. This is the second time that LPS has received the ELPA Excellence Award.

Eight LPS schools received the John Irwin Award. Given to schools that exceed expectations on the three-year school performance framework indicator, their academic achievement meets or exceeds expectations related to academic growth gaps. Additionally, they demonstrate the highest levels of achievement not just for some students, but also for adequate performance across ALL student groups. For high schools, this means that they also meet or exceed graduation expectations. Only 168 schools received this award in 2016. LPS School that received the John Irwin Award are:

• Arapahoe High School
• Powell Middle School
• Littleton Academy
• Franklin Elementary School
• Lenski Elementary School
• Runyon Elementary School
• Sandburg Elementary School
• Wilder Elementary School

Four LPS schools earned the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award. Presented to schools that demonstrate excellent student growth, as measured by the School Performance Framework, these schools exceed expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth over three years. Only 128 schools received this award in 2016. LPS School that received the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award are:

• Runyon Elementary School
• Wilder Elementary School
• Franklin Elementary School
• Hopkins Elementary School

Each school that received an award from the Colorado Department of Education was honored at the district’s March 9th Board of Education Meeting. “We are so very proud of our schools and wanted also to recognize these achievements here with our Board. We know that reaching these milestones takes hard work and dedication on the part of our teachers, students and families,” said Superintendent Ewert.

Thank you to the members of our school communities who accepted these awards:

ELPA Excellence Award
Received the award on behalf of LPS:
Mandy Leensvaart, ELA Program Specialist

“Accredited With Distinction”
Received the award on behalf of LPS:
Connie Bouwman, Deputy Superintendent

Arapahoe High School
John Irwin Award
Received the award of behalf of Arapahoe:
Natalie Pramenko, Principal

Powell Middle School
John Irwin Award
Received the award on behalf of Powell:
Steve Wolf, Principal

Franklin Elementary School
Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award & John Irwin Award
Received the awards on behalf of Franklin:
John Melkonian, Principal
Sara Tierney, Instructional Coach

Hopkins Elementary School
Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award
Received the award on behalf of Hopkins:
Lyndsey Case, Principal

Lenski Elementary School
John Irwin Award
Received the award on behalf of Lenski:
Barb DeSpain, Principal

Littleton Academy
John Irwin Award
Received the award on behalf of Littleton Academy:
Shelly Russell, Principal

Runyon Elementary School
Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award
John Irwin Award
Received the awards on behalf of Runyon:
Trudy Meisinger, Principal

Sandburg Elementary School
John Irwin Award
Received the award on behalf of Sandburg:
Jenn Sheldon, Principal
Killi Hamzeh, Kindergarten Teacher
Ellen Smith, First Grade Teacher
Shante Dallapiazza, Literacy and Math Interventionist
Christi James, Instructional Coach and Library Teacher

Wilder Elementary School
Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award & John Irwin Award
Received the awards on behalf of Wilder:
Susan Dalton, Principal