Nitsch Elementary given 2023 National Blue Ribbon honor
A Klein ISD school made history after becoming the first elementary in the district to ever be named a National Blue Ribbon School.
Nitsch Elementary last month was recognized as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. This award was given to only 353 schools across the nation based on student academic achievement measures and progress toward closing achievement gaps.
Nitsch Elementary joins other schools in the district that received this designation in the past such as Strack Intermediate School in 1991, Klein Oak High School in 1996, and Klein Forest High School in 2002, according to the district website.
Principal Frank Ward said Nitsch Elementary teachers are invested in how well students perform. After receiving this recognition, he said, teachers felt validation for the time they put into their lesson plans and students.
“The biggest change over time that I’ve seen with the students is probably their mindset towards their work and their mindset towards achieving,” Ward said, adding that students have adjusted to the school’s instructional schedule and workload. “It no longer seems as though it’s an impossible task for them.”
Nitsch Elementary School currently has around 620 students and 90 staff members on its campus. Ward said teachers at Nitsch spend countless hours on lesson plans and figuring out how to best deliver lessons in a way that promotes student success. He said Nitsch’s mission is to make sure students are equipped with what they need before they leave elementary school.
The National Blue Ribbon School was not the only recognition Nitsch received last month. Ward also received the 2023 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership given by the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Ward assumed the position of Nitsch Elementary School principal in 2019 and has been in Klein ISD for 17 years.
“I like to think that I’m a competent leader … who’s leading great people and through leading great people, we’re able to produce great students,” Ward said.
The Terrel H. Bell Award recognizes visionary school leaders who have transformed their schools into beacons of excellence. Ward said when taking on this role, he didn’t think he’d win an award like this, but he knew Nitsch would one day be recognized for its academic accomplishments.