Hitting the Books: Gov. Polis pays special visit to 'Blue Ribbon' Skyview Middle School

Yahoo

24-05-2025

Only four schools in Colorado and 356 schools in the nation can claim the title of 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
Skyview Middle School, 1047 Camino DeBravo in Pueblo West, is one of them.
While representatives of the school had already visited Washington D.C. on Nov. 8, 2024, to receive a Blue Ribbon School award in the "Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools" category from the U.S. Department of Education, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis visited Skyview Middle School on May 19, 2025, to congratulate the school once more.
"It's amazing to see the magic that goes on here at Skyview, how they're preparing students for success, and I'm glad to help lend our state recognition to the important national recognition of the Blue Ribbon," Polis said during the visit.
Polis also praised the school's career and technical education offerings, including criminology, in a conversation with the Chieftain.
Skyview Principal Wendy James told the Chieftain on May 19 that the school receiving a Blue Ribbon Award is a result of the work the school has done to "meet students where they are academically."
"It's a combination of meeting kids where they are if they need enrichment or if they need educational support," James said. "We are constantly looking at data every week, and it's fluid, especially our students that are in support classes — if they're showing growth and they're able to maintain that, then we pull that support away to see if they can maintain that on their own."
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has presented Irving Elementary School, Minnequa Elementary and Sunset Park Elementary School with 'Center of Excellence" awards — an honor bestowed upon schools with at-risk populations of at least 75% that demonstrate significant longitudinal growth.
"It's always inspiring to see schools leading the way with innovative approaches and a deep commitment to their students,' CDE Commissioner Susana Córdova said in a Pueblo D60 news release. 'The awards for these schools remind us what's possible when educators, families, and communities work together to create meaningful opportunities for every learner.'
Principals Jaime Schwab of Irving Elementary, Katie Harshman of Minnequa Elementary, and Amber Hertneky of Sunset Park Elementary accepted the Center of Excellence awards at Colorado State University's Spur campus on May 16.
GOAL High School, a statewide alternative education campus founded in Pueblo, has received 2025 Denver Post Top Workplace Culture Excellence awards in three categories — "Culture Excellence," "Purpose & Values" and "Work-Life Flexibility." The awards were based on anonymous feedback from an employee engagement survey
'We are incredibly honored to receive these awards," GOAL CEO Constance Jones said in a news release. "Our staff's commitment to a positive and supportive environment enhances our mission. As a woman-led organization, we take immense pride in promoting leadership, diversity and inclusivity."
Graduations: 2025 graduation season is here. Here's where ceremonies are happening in Pueblo
Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at [e-mail]. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Polis visits Skyview Middle, Pueblo schools get state awards and more