Riverside Middle wins national honor

Most school have two flags flying out front.

Riverside Middle School now has three.

School officials last week brought home the National School of Excellence flag, which flies as a tangible symbol of what the school has achieved.

"I think it's an affirmation for parents, students and faculty that what we have been doing is right, correct and excellent," said Principal Don Putnam. "We are nationally recognized as a School of Excellence."

Teacher Jane Ellaissi, Putnam and the school's teacher of the year, Glen Roberson, traveled to Washington for the awards ceremony Oct. 3-4. A total of 172 public and private schools were recognized during the 19th annual Blue Ribbon Schools Award program.

Speakers during the event included U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.

"I have never seen a school that had outstanding student achievement that did not also have great leadership, great teachers and a strong curriculum," he said, adding that the criteria for the award will change next year and be based on student achievement, the crux of the No Child Left Behind Law.

Then under the direction of Principal Sandra Carraway, who is now the principal of Greenbrier High School, the school received notice of the National Blue Ribbon award last spring. The school had been named a state Blue Ribbon school before moving on to the national competition.