LV school wins Blue Ribbon

By Emily Richmond

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

Advanced Technologies Academy, a Clark County School District magnet program, was named a Blue Ribbon School this morning, the highest honor bestowed by the Education Department.

ATA, now in its 10th year as a magnet high school, is the only Nevada campus named a Blue Ribbon School this year. Only 219 schools will earn the designation nationwide.

The announcement, made this morning during an assembly in the school's gymnasium, was greeted with loud cheers by the students.

Silvia Avena, the school's student body president, said this morning she thought the honor was well deserved.

"We don't have students who don't want to be here," said Avena, who is in the school's law program. "We all want to succeed at school and in life, and I don't think there is anyone who works harder than we do academically."

The academy is "an interesting and exciting place," she said. "The whole energy here is different than any high school I've ever visited."

Maria Hernandez Ferrier, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education, who presented the award, noted the unique nature of the school, on Vegas Drive near Martin Luther King Boulevard.

"This is a school that is open to all children from all backgrounds," Ferrier said. "The common denominator is that they really want to excel."

Ferrier, who is director of the federal office of English language acquisition, said the academy embodies the principles of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

"When you hold students to a higher standard and then give them the support they need, they will succeed," Ferrier said.

Principal Jane Oler said that's what the school does.

"We have a very diverse student body, talented and involved educators and a real wealth of learning opportunities," Oler said. "Our students excel because they're given the opportunity to focus on what really interests them."

With just under 1,000 students, the Advanced Technology Academy is closer to the size of a elementary school than the typical district high school of 3,500 or more students. Students choose from computer programming, graphic design, engineering and law-related courses and also take part in professional internships.

"It's a fabulous school, and it's wonderful to see the commitment of the staff, community and students recognized," Clark County Schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia said. "It clearly shows there are some great things going on in this district."

Garcia said the Blue Ribbon designation is a tribute to former principal Michael Kinnaird, who launched the program and retired in June.

Kinnaird, who attended the ceremony this morning, said the designation was confirmation that the school is on the right track.

"This kind of recognition tells us we're not only meeting the state standards, but we're meeting those at the federal level, as well," Kinnaird said.

"Now the goal for the students and teachers here is to keep reaching for that high level and to keep striving to do what it is we've shown everyone we're capable of."