'Teaching hope to our kids': Brewbaker Primary chosen as Model School for work done during COVID

The International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE) has named Brewbaker Primary School a Model School.

Brewbaker Principal Jaclyn Wright said in a statement Thursday that the school was cited for its focus on relationships and rigorous academics.

"Our team committed to teaching hope to our kids at BPS in the midst of a pandemic," Wright said in the news release. "We weren't sure how it would turn out, but we gave our kids our very best teaching efforts. It has been a remarkable journey with our kids and teammates making amazing gains in reading proficiency along the way."

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School leaders apply for the designation by sharing a "turnaround story," by showing how they are driving student achievement, or by sharing "an innovative solution to a widespread challenge," ICLE founder Dr. Bill Daggett wrote in a 2017 blog post.

Representatives from Model Schools are then asked to present at ICLE's annual conference for educators.

Of the 16 schools named Model Schools this year, three are in Alabama. Crestmont Elementary School in Northport and Central High School in Tuscaloosa were also chosen.

Wright had been previously commended for her work at the May Alabama State Board of Education meeting.

ICLE is the consultancy arm of textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Its mission, according to the ICLE website, is to support schools in providing a future-focused, rigorous and relevant education for their students.

Jemma Stephenson is the children and education reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at jstephenson@gannett.com or 334-261-1569.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: ICLE names Brewbaker Primary a model school, invited to summer conference