Winton elementary school earns national Blue Ribbon award

Frank Sparkes Elementary School in Winton has been named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools award winner, one of only 24 in the state and among 337 schools in the nation.

Sparkes Principal Kim Cuthriell said she is proud of the students and staff at Sparkes school for closing the achievement gap. The school at 7265 Almond Ave. has 411 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade.

In an unusual twist, Cuthriell’s brother, Doug Johnson, is principal of a school in northern San Diego County that also received the Blue Ribbon award. Johnson is principal of Del Sur Elementary and a graduate of Merced schools.

“The staff and students at Frank Sparkes Elementary have all worked hard to close the achievement gap by steering the diverse student body toward excellence,” Cuthriell said. “The Frank Sparkes students and staff have faced challenges but addressed and overcame the obstacles to prove that all students can be successful.”

Cuthriell said teachers and former principal Ka Vang worked diligently to identify techniques and materials that would propel student understanding and achievement to the next level. The staff have continued this winning formula with the addition of state Common Core instructional standards and still expect high levels of excellence from the students.

She also lauded Winton School District Superintendent Randall Heller and the Winton school board for their support and encouragement.

“Frank Sparkes is a rural school that serves a huge English language-learner population,” Cuthriell said. “Our mission at school is to create a safe and encouraging environment to enable our students to have high academic achievement. Our motto is ‘Where Education Sparkes a Bright Future.’ ”

Cuthriell said Sparkes teachers are great motivators who encourage students. Classroom instruction is standards-based, carefully planned and delivered.

An after-school program is offered to give students additional help with their assignments, enrichment opportunities and a safe environment while some of their parents are still at work.

“Our migrant students have the opportunity to attend school on Saturday to receive more instruction to gain ground that is often lost when they move due to agricultural reasons,” Cuthriell said.

Johnson, Cuthriell’s brother, was born in Merced and attended Ada Givens Elementary and Hoover Middle schools, graduating from Merced High School in 1978. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and business in 1983 from California State University, Fresno.

Johnson, a Carlsbad resident, was a teacher with the Fresno Unified School District for four years and has been a principal at elementary and middle school levels for 21 years. He said he is delighted with the Blue Ribbon school award and said it’s a huge honor for his school.

Johnson said he was able to plan, organize and help design Del Sur Elementary School seven years ago. That school, which has 720 pupils from preschool through fifth grade, also received a California Distinguished Schools award.

This story was originally published September 30, 2014 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Winton elementary school earns national Blue Ribbon award ."