Jan. 20, 2023 ~ The National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education Act State Program Administrators (NAESPA) is pleased to announce that Westview Elementary School has been named a National ESEA Distinguished School.

Westview Elementary School is one of 100 Title I schools throughout the country to be nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2022.

"We are so proud of Westview Elementary School students, staff, families and community partners for this outstanding achievement,” Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager said. “Our Westview Elementary educators go above and beyond every day to ensure that their students are prepared for their future through collaboration and individualization with specific outcome goals.”

A project of NAESPA, the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students. It highlights the efforts of schools across the country to make significant improvements for their students.

Westview Elementary School is being recognized in category 2, which celebrates the school’s ability to close the achievement gap between student groups, as determined by each state.

“Our school is like a family – our staff is very close and with a smaller school, we are extremely close with our students too,” Principal Cindy Kapeller said. “We as a staff wanted to focus on improving Tier I instruction, as well as continuing targeted intervention programs while making really smart and informed decisions on what is best for our kids according to the data. There is an incredible sense of a shared investment not only in the success of our students but also in each other by helping each other grow and improve."

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides additional resources for vulnerable students and federal grants to state educational agencies to improve the quality of public elementary and secondary education.

The national association is a membership organization made up of state ESEA program administrators, and their staff from each of the states and territories, charged with managing their state federal education program. They ensure compliance with federal regulations, but more importantly work to see that all children — especially those living in economically disadvantaged conditions — have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education.