Limited on resources but not on commitment, a South Side magnet school said they are on top of the world, and no one could bring them out of the clouds.
Black Magnet School was one of the 21 schools in Illinois named a 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U. S. Dept. of Education.
Thomas Little, Black’s principal, said he received a call last month from the DOE that the school was on the radar list to potentially receive the Blue Ribbon Award.
The national award, which began in 1982, honors public and private schools that are either academically superior in their state or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
“When I opened that e-mail on Sept. 9 that read ‘Congratulations,’ I just couldn’t believe it. I just said, ‘Are you kidding?’” Little told the Defender.
Little, who has been the principal for the last 10 years, said the award was just the boost in confidence the students, faculty and parents needed.
“We needed this,” he said.
Black is one of the Chicago Public Schools magnet schools, but it does not have selective enrollment. There is no testing involved for the students to attend.
The school has two campuses: Kindergarten through 3rd grade is housed at their North campus on 71st Street and Coles Avenue. Grades 4 through 8 are at the South campus on 91st Street and Euclid Avenue.
“We have students with special needs and challenges. We are proud of all of our students, and being recognized by the President of the United States is a wonderful honor,” Little said.
Little and Sheila Phillips, one of the school’s math teachers, will accept the award from President George Bush in Washington, D.C. later this month.
Phillips said the faculty spends a great deal of time with the students because they are committed to seeing each student succeed.
“We spend so much time here that sometimes I think we need to set up some cots. The faculty goes above and beyond their call of duty,” Phillips said.
When allocated funds for the school’s needs are sparse, she said many of the staff reach into their own pockets to get the kids what they need.
Once Little and Phillips return with the award, the faculty and parents will have a luncheon to celebrate, and all the students will receive blue ribbons to wear.
“This has been a long journey, and it’s not over,” Little said.
Walter Peyton College Prep High School and Queen of All Saints School, both on the North Side, were also named Blue Ribbon Schools.
Kathy Chaney can be reached via e-mail at kchaney@chicagodefender.com.
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