Media Releases

Friday, November 23, 2007

DISTRICT RECOGNIZED BY MINISTER OF EDUCATION

At today's MELRA (Minister's Education Leadership Recognition Awards) ceremony, the Minister of Education presented Edmonton Public Schools' Board Chair Bev Esslinger with awards to acknowledge the District's significant improvement in 15 categories:

  • Safe and Caring;
  • Program of Studies;
  • Education Quality;
  • High School Completion Rate;
  • Diploma Exam Participation Rate;
  • Rutherford Scholarship Eligibility Rate;
  • Transition Rate;
  • Work Preparation;
  • Citizenship;
  • Parental Involvement;
  • School Improvement;
  • Practical Arts;
  • Fine Arts;
  • Healthful Living; and
  • Other Non-Diploma.

In addition, the Minister presented Chair Esslinger with an award for very high achievement in the category of:

  • Diploma Exams: Excellence.

The categories are based on the provincial Accountability Pillar, which involves a variety of objective measures and criteria regarding the education quality of publicly funded school boards. Edmonton Public Schools was recognized in more categories than any other school jurisdiction in Alberta.

"Our Board of Trustees is committed to improving student achievement in our District," says Chair Esslinger. "Our goal is to provide students with an outstanding education that prepares them for success in school and in life. We are pleased that the Minister has recognized the progress we have been making in moving this work forward. We will continue to work in co-operation with our staff, parents and community members to build bright futures for all of our students."

For more information on the awards, visit the Alberta Education website at http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/awards.aspx.

For more information:
Lisa Austin, Communications Director
(780) 429-8043