William Anderson Elementary honored as 2025 California Distinguished School, board hears student and staff spotlight

At a Lawndale Elementary School District Board of Trustees meeting, trustees heard a spotlight presentation recognizing William Anderson Elementary School’s designation as a 2025 California Distinguished School and detailing academic gains and school programs.

The recognition was presented during the board’s Communications/Spotlight segment by Principal Kevin Cornett and assistant principal Sarah Diaz, and comments and certificates were delivered by representatives from state and federal offices. The district and school leaders told the board the award highlights improvements in student outcomes and efforts to close achievement gaps.

Principal Kevin Cornett framed the presentation around the school’s data-driven strategies. He said Anderson focused its first School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) goal on i-Ready growth and reported results from the third i-Ready diagnostic: reading proficiency reached 52%, above the school’s 48% target and an increase from about 26% at the start of the year; math proficiency rose to 41% from a 13% starting point, exceeding the school’s 36% goal.

Cornett credited schoolwide implementation of grade-level SMART goals, frequent PLC (professional learning community) collaboration and incentives such as acknowledgment ceremonies and small celebrations to build student ownership. "We finished i-Ready diagnostic number 3, and there's our results," Cornett said as he described the gains.

Fifth-grade student council president Derek Ramirez addressed the board and described student-led initiatives. "Being student council president has been such an amazing experience," Ramirez said, listing projects including homework passes, fundraising for first responders and a planned "Go Green Week." The superintendent also brought Derek to the board dais and the student led the flag salute.

Representatives of several elected offices presented certificates and congratulations on behalf of their principals: a representative for Assemblymember (as recorded at the meeting) congratulated the school; Ara, a representative for Supervisor Holly Mitchell, presented a certificate on behalf of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; Asia Eveland, casework manager for Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ district office, presented a recognition from Congresswoman Waters; and a certificate signed by State Senator Laura Richardson was read into the record.

Teachers, special-education staff, the school social worker and PTA leaders described programming that officials said helped support the recognition: inclusion and transition supports for students with significant needs (the district’s "Journeys" program), English learner services and a newcomer academy serving students with less than three years in the U.S., attendance and PBIS (positive behavioral interventions and supports) initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism, and expanded hands-on learning opportunities such as MakerSpace and field trips funded in part by PTA and other partners.

School social worker Brianna Resendiz said Anderson reduced chronic absenteeism by 6.6 percentage points from the prior year to an 18.7% chronic absenteeism rate, and that average daily attendance for the year was 93.80% with a school goal of 95%.

Board members praised the school. Trustee Anne Phillips said skeptics of public education should visit Anderson to see its work, and Trustee Kathy Burris and others expressed congratulations to students and staff.

No board action was taken on the spotlight; the presentation was informational. The board then recessed and continued with the rest of its agenda.

The district’s presenters and board members provided data and described next steps to maintain momentum. A principal, teachers and school staff said they would continue PLC-based instruction and family engagement to sustain growth and address remaining gaps.

Ending: The board did not vote on any measures related to the recognition. District leaders said Anderson’s practices will be shared with other schools, and the superintendent forecasted additional distinguished-school recognitions for the district in the future.