Press Release

Daniell Middle, Murdock Elementary
Named 2007 Georgia Schools of Excellence

Daniell Middle School and Murdock Elementary School have been named 2007 Georgia Schools of Excellence by the Georgia Department of Education. The two Cobb County schools are among only 23 schools statewide to receive the honor, and were selected based on overall excellence and gains in student achievement. The Georgia Schools of Excellence program began in 1984 and has become a badge of honor for schools across the state. Cobb schools have received 39 Georgia School of Excellence designations since the program’s inception.

The Georgia Schools of Excellence program identifies two winning schools from each congressional district in Georgia, based on two sets of criteria. First, a school must rank highest in its congressional district and also be among the state’s top 10 percent of schools. Murdock Elementary meets this qualification in Congressional District 6, making the school eligible for a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools Award nomination. Daniell Middle received District 11 distinction in the program’s second category for showing the greatest continuous gains in student achievement in reading and mathematics over a three-year period. Schools chosen for either category must meet Adequate Yearly Progress for at least three consecutive years, meet or exceed state mean scores in Science and Social Studies and have 100 percent of the teaching staff meet Georgia’s ‘highly qualified’ standards.

Daniell Middle School principal David Nelson credits his school’s strong community partnerships, innovative instructional programs and positive team environment for the School of Excellence honor. The school has several unique strategies in place to help students achieve, including an after-school support program, a study skills class, and the ‘Achievement Anchors’ system, which gives students an adult mentor to support their academic and personal development. Nelson said, “Throughout our history, we have had the exciting opportunity to form strong relationships between our teachers and the community. Through our Partners in Education and organizations like the Canton Road Business Association and our PTSA, we have built a strong support base.” Nelson is quick to attribute the school’s success to his tight-knit faculty. “A collaborative relationship exists between our outstanding teachers and strong administrative team, including our former principal of last year, Merrilee Heflin.”

Murdock Elementary principal Natalie Richman says that the mixture of “dedicated teachers, hard-working, involved parents and prepared and joyful learners” is the formula for her school’s success. Murdock faculty members convene weekly for WOW (Working on Work) team meetings to learn new instructional techniques, analyze data and discuss assignments. “Teachers take students to the next level with high expectations, integrated technology and performance-based learning,” said Mrs. Richman. “Of course we teach the standards at a high level but we must always remember that the most important thing we teach is each individual child.”

The school is equipped with tools to enhance instructional activity, with most components of the 21st Century Classroom already integrated, such as interactive whiteboards, digital projectors and wireless Internet. Murdock students also are receiving bilingual education beginning in Kindergarten, with 40 minutes of Spanish taught weekly at all grade levels.

Mrs. Richman emphasizes that her students’ attitudes are a key ingredient for Murdock’s high levels of achievement. “Murdock students come to school ready to learn. They are the best of the best,” she said.

Cobb Superintendent Fred Sanderson offered his own congratulations. “I am really proud that Cobb County has two schools represented on this elite list of excellent schools. It is a testament to the hard work put in by the teachers at Murdock and Daniell, and the dedicated efforts they are making to improve student achievement. Superintendent Kathy Cox should be commended as well for recognizing not only the highest performing schools, but the schools that are showing the greatest gains in achievement year in and year out.”

Details about the Georgia Schools of Excellence program, including selection criteria, is available from the Department of Education’s web site at www.gadoe.org.