The National PTA organization has recognized Snoqualmie Elementary School and the SES Parent Teacher Student Association, or PTSA, as a National PTA School of Excellence for their achievement in building effective family-school partnerships.

Research shows that when families and schools work together, student achievement increases, schools improve and communities grow stronger.

This award illustrates Snoqualmie Elementary School and SES PTSA’s leadership and commitment to supporting student success and continuous school improvement.

To be recognized as a National PTA School of Excellence, PTAs evaluate their family engagement strategies and submit a goal for school improvement that families, teachers and administrators set together. They improve upon their family engagement strategies throughout the year.

The National PTA School of Excellence designation is awarded to those schools that have demonstrated improvement in the family-school partnership and significant progress toward their goal.

“Under the leadership of former PTSA president Diana Reul-Shapiro, the 2015-16 SES PTSA and Snoqualmie Elementary School staff and administration undertook a year-long initiative to ensure that SES families felt welcomed and empowered to support student success,” said Kim Jones, SES PTSA president.

“Working in tandem with then-principal Kerstin Kramer, Diana worked tirelessly to solidify the SES PTSA’s role as a key partner for continuous school improvement. The goal was to ensure SES students’ health and safety, with a focus on their emotional and mental well-being. A team of educators, parents and community leaders worked hard to make that a priority for our school and our PTSA, and I am looking forward to continuing the momentum in the 2016-17 school year.”

For more information, visit pta.org/excellence.