Denali Elementary School receives national award

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Denali Elementary School has been named a national distinguished school by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

The recognition is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education act, or ESEA. Denali Elementary School was selected as a category-2 recipient of the ESEA award for significantly closing the achievement gap between groups of students with different socio-economic status.

Rebecca Zaverl, the principal of Denali Elementary said they were able to achieve this accomplishment by assessing the students and take that information “to meet their needs right where they are and get them to the next level.”

Denali Elementary is one of up 100 schools being recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2022. Heidi Teshner, the acting commissioner for the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development called the award a “prestigious honor.” Zaverl said that being honored has provided “a big boost of enthusiasm across the school.”

Salcha Elementary School was the last school in the district to receive the recognition eight years ago in 2014.

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