On Monday, April 10, District 15 State Board of Education member Aaron Kinsey visited Brownwood’s East Elementary School to recognize the campus and its administrators for earning their recent Blue Ribbon designation. Kinsey, along with ESC Region 15 Executive Director Casey Callahan, congratulated Brownwood ISD superintendents and East Elementary administrators for the nationally recognized achievement.

Above: (left to right) East Elementary Assistant Principal Jennifer Gwathmey, BISD Assistant Superintendent Mitch Moore, BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land, District 15 State Board of Education Member Aaron Kinsey, East Principal Christi Burks, ESC Region 15 Executive Director Casey Callahan, former East (now Northwest) Principal Dee Dee Wright, and BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young.

East Elementary School was one of 25 Texas schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2022. The award is given by the U.S. Department of Education, and it is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

Above: State Board of Education Member Aaron Kinsey reads a resolution honoring East Elementary as a National Blue Ribbon school.

After touring the school, Kinsey visited with district administrators and principals Christi Burks and Dee Dee Wright regarding the efforts that go into making a Blue Ribbon school. “It’s about building genuine relationships,” said Wright. “It has to be genuine. The children see right through it otherwise. The kids respond to teachers and administrators that truly believe in them and support them.” Burks echoed the sentiment adding, “It’s important to build relationships with the parents as well and invite them to campus events to be involved as much as they can be in their child’s education.”

Kinsey read a signed resolution from the State Board of Education acknowledging East’s National Blue Ribbon designation before presenting it to the school principals.