Ynarose Lara, top, 6, and Kevin Estes, 6, learn how to count change in Toni Mata's first-grade class Thursday at Larson Elementary in Lodi. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Larson, River Oaks, Julia Morgan elementary schools are honored with top public education award

Principals from two Lodi Unified schools and one Galt Elementary school received a phone call from State Superintendent Jack O'Connell early this week congratulating them on receiving the state's top honor in public education — the California Distinguished Schools award.

Larson, River Oaks and Julia Morgan elementary schools are a few of the 343 elementary schools statewide that received the coveted distinction.

To get the award, schools must first be invited to apply. Invitations are based at least in part on the schools' standardized test scores.

Then they must go through a lengthy application process. Finally, a team of judges visits the campus.

Each of the schools' principals credited the entire campus community for contributing to their schools' success.

"It takes everybody from the teachers to the secretaries to the instructional assistant staff," said Lois Yount, principal at River Oaks Elementary. "It's all 75 people on campus."

While River Oaks has been around for 15 years, both Julia Morgan and Larson elementaries are fairly new schools. Julia Morgan is in its sixth school year, and Larson's doors have been open for only three years.

Cheryl Nilmeyer, principal at Larson Elementary, said her school almost didn't apply because, even though her school was invited to apply, she thought its youth would hold it back from actually winning the award.

"We're a new school what's the chances of this happening?," she asked a San Joaquin Office of Education employee.

Larson Elementary School Principal Cheryl Nilmeyer stands in front of a Star that is painted on the floor at the school. Larson Elementary recently won a California Distinguished Schools award. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Not only did the employee said she should apply, she said new schools often win because their staffs share a certain excitement and focus that comes with opening a new school.

Nilmeyer estimated that she and her staff spent more that 200 hours filling out the application.

"The time we spent obviously paid off," Nilmeyer said.

Linda Kapic, principal at Julia Morgan Elementary, said her school is a place where people look out for each other.

For instance, she said, there was a young girl who was having problems with her peers and her school work. Instead of punishing the child, two staff members took her under their wings, told her how much they cared about her and set her up with a tutor.

"If you show children you care, you can help them achieve their goals," Kapic said.

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.