Meek Elementary gets national honor

ARLEY - Meek Elementary School has been selected as one of only two schools in the entire state for a national honor under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished School.
The Alabama State Board of Education, in a meeting Thursday, Nov. 13, voted to approve two resolutions, one recognizing Meek Elementary School, the other recognizing New Bethel Elementary School in Colbert County, each under state school board district 7-- as an ESEA Distinguished School.
The state school board will present the ESEA Distinguished Schools the award on the achievement on December 11, in Montgomery, school officials said.
MES also has a December 19 deadline to submit a two-minute video to ESEA, visually describing the academic successes of
their school, used to maintain their academic achievement, Harden said.
On February 10-12, the video will be displayed at the ESEA national conference in Denver, Colo., educators said.
“This was a big deal,” MES Principal Wes Harden pointed out. “It’s great because I don’t know of any other school around, especially in our system, that has been nationally recognized.
“I am glad that it is us, but I am also glad our school system is getting recognition for our academic achievement,” Harden emphasized. 
“We get a lot of recognition for our sports because we have a bunch of good sports teams, but I like that we’re getting some recognition for our academic side of our school system,” Harden added.
Winston County Schools Superintendent Jeff Scott agreed this national distinction was good for the entire school system.
In fact, the Winston County Board of Education honored MES for the national distinction at the local board’s regular meeting Monday, Nov. 17, held at Meek Elementary School.
“There are only two schools per state that receive that honor,” Scott emphasized. “And for Meek Elementary to be one of those two schools is just a great accomplishment.
“It speaks volumes about the faculty and staff down there, how hard they work and the commitment they have for their students,” Scott added. 
“We may not always have the funds available and resources that other people have, but we’ve always been able to overcome that with our hard work and our effort and commitment to our students,” Scott continued.