Ladoga Elementary was one of 16 schools in Indiana named a Blue Ribbon School this year.
The U.S. Department of Education recognized 356 schools across the country on Monday for their “overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.”
This is the first time Ladoga Elementary has been recognized as a Blue Ribbon School.
The school went all out to celebrate Tuesday morning, parents even decorated the school the night be-fore to surprise the students. Students were greeted at the door with hugs and high-fives from teachers, staff and South Montgomery’s schools’ mascot, The Mountie.
Students were led into the gymnasium shortly after school started so that the staff could tell them the big news. The announcement was accompanied with cheering and confetti and ended with cupcakes.
Many of Ladoga’s staff contributed the success to their principal, Kristin Paris, and her leadership.
Paris, who went to Ladoga when she was a child, has only been the school’s principal for two years. A year after she started her career in education, she found herself back at the school teaching.
South Montgomery’s superintendent, Dr. Stephanie Hofer, was there to celebrate. She spoke to the staff while waiting for the students to arrive.
Hofer commended Paris for her leadership and acknowledged the efforts of the teachers.
“I have not witnessed better instruction than ever than when I am here in this building,” Hofer told La-doga staff. “So, your culture, your climate, everything you do is a testament to how you feel about your kids and your leadership and then what you do on a daily basis. So truly, congratulations.”
Paris said it was a group effort, winning this award, and being a smaller school makes it easier to give students a more personal learning experience.
“The best part about our school is our community,” Paris said. “We have great parents. We have great businesses that support us and show up.”
Not only are parents and businesses in the community big contributions to Ladoga’s success, but Paris also praises the teachers and said they are the biggest reason for receiving the award.
“Our teachers are fantastic. They know their kids. They love their kids. And they work hard for their kids,” she said.
Jennifer Long is a fifth-grade teacher at the school. She has been teaching at Ladoga Elementary for 30 years, and Paris was a first grader at the school when she first started.
Long said the main reasons the school has accomplished so much is because everyone is a family and the students love being there.
“They genuinely like being here. And they seem to genuinely like all of us and just want us to be together,” Long said.
