Dear Editor,

I am incredibly proud to share that Nederland Elementary School has received two prestigious awards from the Colorado Department of Education for the 2023–24 school year.

First, NES was one of only ten schools in the Boulder Valley School District to receive the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award. This award recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth. On the state’s School Performance Framework, these schools "exceed" expectations in longitudinal academic growth and "meet or exceed" expectations in closing academic growth gaps.

Second, NES was one of 22 BVSD schools honored with the John Irwin Award. This award is given to schools that show outstanding academic achievement over time. Schools receiving this honor must earn an "Exceeds Expectations" rating in Academic Achievement—demonstrating consistently high performance in Math, English Language Arts, and Science.

Nederland Elementary was one of only seven BVSD schools to earn both awards this year—and this is the first time in school history that NES has received either recognition!

These achievements are a well-earned reflection of the outstanding dedication and passion our staff bring every day.

From our amazing teachers who create rigorous and nurturing learning environments, to our school culture team fostering a safe and supportive climate, to our paraeducators guiding positive behavior on the playground and supporting our all our students across the building, to our front office staff keeping everything running smoothly with grace and good humor, and to our custodians who care for our school and greet students warmly each day—Nederland Elementary truly is a special place.

Please join me in celebrating this incredible accomplishment as we wrap up another successful school year. I am excited for what lies ahead and confident in the continued success of our students, staff, and school community.

Ian MacGregor

Nederland