News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 26, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Communications Office, 360-725-6014

Gov. Locke, Superintendent of Public Instruction Bergeson announce March’s Reading School of the Month

AUBURN – Gov. Gary Locke and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson today recognized Terminal Park Elementary School in Auburn as the Washington State Reading School of the Month for March.

Locke and Bergeson presented the award to Mike Nollan, Terminal Park Elementary School principal, and congratulated students, parents, teachers, staff and administrators for their outstanding results in increasing reading proficiency, implementing effective practices in reading and improving overall academic achievement.

“Reading is the key to all other academic achievement,” Locke said, emphasizing the importance of education reform. “Terminal Park Elementary School’s improvement in reading achievement in the past four years is incredible.”

“Express to Success” is the motto for the school’s students who “ride the train to reading success daily.” During the 1996-97 school year, only 42 percent of fourth-grade students at the school met the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) reading standards. The school’s most recent WASL scores nearly doubled to 80.9 percent.

“We are greatly impressed by the incredible progress you have made, not just in reading but in math, too,” Locke said, congratulating the students on their achievements. “Your progress is absolutely phenomenal. Keep up the great work!”

The governor also thanked the teachers, staff and parents for helping students meet high academic standards.

“This was a team effort to get students to be good readers,” Locke said. “We want to showcase your excellent work to other schools across our state so that all of our schools improve and all of our young people gain the skills they need for a lifetime of success.”

“I’m happy to be with you as we celebrate your improved reading achievements,” Bergeson told the students. “Good reading and math skills will allow you to do anything you want to do when you grow up.”

Breann Parriott, Miss Washington 2001, joined Locke and Bergeson at the event. Parriott pledged to make reading her community service priority as Miss Washington.

Each school selected for reading excellence will be featured on the Washington State Reading School of the Month Web site (www.schoolofthemonth.org), which was developed through a donation from Verizon Reads. The site will highlight the reading and school improvement plans for each month’s featured school.
Related Links:
- Washington State Reading School of the Month
- Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Terminal Park Elementary School


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