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Could this principal win state honor?

Strong backing for Animas Valley leader
Schuba

Lisa Schuba, principal of Animas Valley Elementary School, has been nominated for the 2015 National Distinguished Principal Award for Colorado.

The prestigious award, sponsored by the Colorado Association of School Executives, goes to a single person.

Schuba has been principal for seven years at Animas Valley, where she taught 19 years before taking her current position.

Schuba was nominated for the same award in 2013. Additionally, for 2011, the Colorado Association of Elementary School Principals gave her the Reba Ferguson Memorial Rookie Principal of the Year Award, which goes to one principal in his or her first three years.

Schuba wouldn’t take personal credit for the recognition.

“Our school has some notable accomplishments over the past seven years, accomplishments that can be attributed to every working member of community,” Schuba said in a statement. “I am proud to be part of such an amazing community. Our success comes from all levels of support from all Durango stakeholders.”

Among accomplishments, Schuba said, was exceeding the state expectations in closing achievement gaps among minority students in all fields in 2014; a Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award in 2011 for high student academic achievement (the only La Plata County school so honored); recipient of a $15,000 technology grant from BP of America to support school-based energy conservation and fourth-grade science curriculum; and from 2009 to the present, the operation of a 1,200-square-foot learning garden and a geodesic dome greenhouse that promotes hands-on learning.

Brett and Johnna Bronson and Justin Howe, all members of the Animas Valley School Accountability Committee, nominated Schuba for the 2015 award. Denise Robbins, also a committee member, sent a letter of recommendation.

The award will be announced in February.

daler@durangoherald.com



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