Sheridan Principal Audrey Bridgeford heads to the podium to accept the award.

Sheridan Elementary,St. Paul, and Nettleton Magnet, Duluth, receive “Minnesota’s Future Awards”from Minnesota Business Partnership

 Minneapolis, Sept. 14, 2006 — Amid growing pressure to close the achievement gap between white students and students of color, Sheridan Elementary School in St. Paul and Nettleton Magnet School in Duluth received“Minnesota’s Future Awards” from the Minnesota Business Partnership (MBP) fortheir success in raising the academic achievement of minority and low-incomestudents.

“Changing demographics and globalization of our economy make it imperative that Minnesota prepares all of our young people for success in a global, Information Age,” said Chip Emery, chairman, president and CEO of MTS Systems Corp. and chair of the Partnership’s Education Policy Committee. “We wanted to recognize two public elementary schools whose students are succeeding because of their fundamental belief that all students can learn – and are finding ways to help them.”

Emery presented the awards last night in front of nearly 800 business and political leaders at the Partnership’s Annual Dinner. Accompanying each award was a check for $10,000.

Minnesota’s Future Award: Academic Improvement: Sheridan Elementary School, a diverse neighborhood school in St. Paul’s East Side, has about 300 students. One-third are white. The other two-thirds are primarily African-American, Asian and Hispanic. Three-quarters are low-income and one-third have limited English skills.
 

From 2003 through 2005, the percentage of Sheridan’s third- and fifth-graders performing at or above grade level on the MCAs in math and reading was nearly on par with the statewide averages. Sheridan’s African-American and low-income students significantly outperformed their peers statewide. By 2005, the percentages of Sheridan’s low-income and African-American fifth-graders performing at or above grade level were comparable to the statewide averages for all students.

“This is indeed a glowing moment in the history of the Sheridan School Community – for our students, our staff and our families,” said Sheridan Principal Audrey Bridgeford. “With this recognition, the Minnesota Business Partnership has declared that it highly values the outcome of our work and that Sheridan is “nested” within the MBP community. With the degree of motivation and inspiration that this recognition and gift may generate, the return on the investment will be in estimable.”

Minnesota’sFuture Award: High Academic Performance: Nettleton Magnet School, a diverse elementary schoolin Duluth, has about 380 students. About half the school’s students are white, while the other half is predominantly Native American and African-American. Three-quarters of the students are from low-income families. Many are homeless.

In 2003 and 2004, the percentage of Nettleton’s low-income third- and fifth-graders performing at or above grade level on the MCAs in math and reading frequently exceeded their peers statewide. In 2005, Nettleton’s low-income fifth-graders exceeded the statewide averages in both math and reading, and the third-graders were comparable.

"We as an educational family believe in our students and are fully committed to giving all of them the confidence and skills they need to continue theireducational journey  in the quest to fulfill their dreams," said Nettleton Principal Stephanie Heilig.

“Without a doubt, Minnesota’s future depends on having awell-educated, highly trained and motivated workforce,” said MBP Executive Director Charlie Weaver, “which is why the Partnership is focused on educationand young people.”

In addition, the Partnership honored employees from Cargill, Inc.;Ceridian Corporation and Residential Finance Corporation for their commitment to youth mentoring. Rod Arnold received the 2006 Connecting with Youth Award for his work with students and at Olson Middle School in Minneapolis through Cargill’s eMentoring program.  Ceridian President and CEO Ronald Turner was honored with the Connecting with Youth Lifetime Achievement Award for efforts to promote youth mentoring through the Partnership. Bob and Angela Poorman, also with Cargill, and Traci Lindemoen with GMAC-RFC were honored as “Heroes of Mentoring.
 

The Minnesota Business Partnership is a non-profit,non-partisan public policy organization made up of more than 100 chief executive officers of Minnesota’s leading employers. Since 1977, the Partnership has been committed to developing and advocating public policies that encourage the creation and retention of high quality jobs in Minnesota.