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Health & Fitness

Carl Hankey named "Distinguished School"

Orange County's only public K-8 International Baccalaureate candidate school — located in Mission Viejo — earns California Department of Education's Distinguished School Award. Learn how!

has been named elementary Distinguished School by the California Department of Education. This distinction comes on the heels of middle school teacher by the Capistrano Unified School District. Carl Hankey, the only public K-8 International Baccalaureate Candidate School in Orange County, earned these honors in large part for its rigorous IB curriculum.

“IB requires sophisticated teaching from our faculty and critical thinking from our students,” says Principal Dana Aguilera. “And it’s gratifying to see all their hard work pay off.”

IB is an internationally recognized standard in education that emphasizes 21st Century skills in technology, foreign language and the arts, subjects that aren’t required by the California Department of Education. Carl Hankey adopted the IB program in 2009 and is in its candidacy phase. The school is on target to achieve IB World School accreditation in the spring of 2014.

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The California Distinguished School Award recognizes schools that have demonstrated measurable educational excellence in closing the academic achievement gap. To be eligible for the award schools must demonstrate growth on the STAR in all their targeted disadvantaged subgroups, complete an extensive application describing two signature practices, and then host a site visitation. Carl Hankey’s IB and Intervention programs were chosen as the school’s two unique signature practices leading to its recognition.

“The [Distinguished] schools…demonstrate the incredible commitment of California’s teachers, administrators, and school employees to provide a world-class education to every student, in spite of the financial hardships facing our state and our schools,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement.

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Sherri George, who teaches 8th grade English and technology, is one of only three teachers in the 2,100-teacher district to be honored with The Teacher of the Year award.

“[These] educators…are examples of the dedicated and talented people we entrust to ensure that all students are prepared for college or career when they leave our schools,” said CUSD Board President Dr. Gary Pritchard in making the announcement.

As a recipient of the California Distinguished School Award, Carl Hankey agrees to share its signature practices with other schools and serve as a mentor to educators who want to replicate its work.

“We are honored by these distinctions and look forward to working with other California educators to help improved student achievement throughout the state” says Principal Aguilera.

For more information contact:

Dana Aguilera, Principal | (949) 234-5315 | deaguilera@capousd.org

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