National University Alumni Leading Blue Ribbon Schools

Annual recognition by U.S. Department of Education celebrates academic excellence; 15 percent of 2016 Blue Ribbon Schools in California headed by National University alumni

National Blue Ribbon Schools are recognized as symbols of exemplary teaching and learning, and this year 15 percent of the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools in California are headed by National University alumni.

A total of 329 schools across the country were recently recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education based upon their overall academic excellence and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Of the 33 Blue Ribbon Schools named in California five of those schools are led by principals who earned their master’s degree or credential from National University’s Sanford College of Education. They are as follows:

Evelyn Garcia (MS, Ed. Admin), Francis Hopkinson Elementary School – Orange County
Esau Berumen (M.Ed.), Hawthorne Math and Science Academy – Los Angeles County
Dana Spencer (Ms. Ed.), Paloma Elementary School – San Diego County
Laura Regan (M.Ed.), Rocklin Academy – Placer County
Matthew Marshall (Credential), Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School – Sonoma County

“These five principals have been recognized among the best school administrators in the country,” said Dr. Judy Mantle, Dean of National University’s Sanford College of Education. “We are proud of their accomplishments. They join eight other alumni who have been principals of Blue Ribbon Schools in the past five years, and their accomplishments speak to the quality of those who complete our administrative programs.”

The NCATE-accredited Sanford College of Education is a leading source statewide for credentialed public school administrators, and is among the top ten largest schools of education in the country.  Its alumni constitute a significant portion of principals in major school districts throughout California, including the following (based on fall 2015 assessments):

  • Fresno Unified School District (13 percent of elementary school principals)
  • Sacramento City Unified School District (20 percent of elementary school principals)
  • Elk Grove Unified School District (20 percent of elementary school principals)
  • Long Beach Unified School District (20 percent of all school principals)
  • San Diego Unified School District (26 percent of elementary school principals)
  • Sweetwater Union High School District (32 percent of all principals)
  • Corona-Norco Unified School District (38 percent of elementary school principals)
  • Clovis Unified High School District (39 percent of all school principals)
  • Poway Unified School District (40 percent of all school principals)
  • Oceanside Unified School District (52 percent of elementary school principals)

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