WY US Senator John Barrasso Visits Sagebrush ES To Congratulate School For Getting Blue Ribbon Status

Wyoming US Senator John Barasso recently paid a visit to a Sheridan Elementary School that has won a high honor for the 3rd time in 15 years.

Barasso was on hand to congratulate students, teachers and staff at Sagebrush Elementary School for being designated as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2024 by the US Secretary of Education.

According to the Department National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards.

Barrasso says the honor is the result of several different groups working together.

“It’s a commitment from the teachers, the parents, the students, it’s a commitment to education and to the future of this generation, so it’s really good and you meet with them and they’re bright eyed and they’re leaning in and they want to hear and they want to do things and how can we help the community, how can we help make the world better. That’s a function of the character of the individuals that are coming out of our schools.”

Sagebrush Elementary School Principal Justin Rohrer explains what the State and US Department of Education looks for when selecting Blue Ribbon schools.

“I think they say how hard our staff works, our students work, obviously test scores play into this and that helps us, but really we try to build on the foundation of building a well rounded student in our school. Academics are very important, but we also focus on making them good humans and that’s recognized I think at the state level as well.”

Sagebrush Elementary was also named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2009 and in 2018.

The school will officially be honored at an awards ceremony next month in Washington DC.

Between 2009 and now, four other elementary schools within Sheridan County School District 2, as well as Sheridan Junior High School have been named National Blue Schools at least once.