Last modified: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:39 PM CDT

Ladue principal wins honor

By Erin Taylor
Staff Writer
LADUE SCHOOLS

Reed Elementary School principal Donna Jahnke began March 18 by getting called to the administrators' office and then returning to her school, only to hear from teachers there was a situation with a student that needed immediate attention.

It was all a ruse, however, as Jahnke was led into the auditorium where her 385 students surprised her with the announcement she had been named Missouri's 2008 National Distinguished Principal by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. Janke's parents, along with friends and representatives from the MAESP, also were in attendance.

Jahnke was selected out of 12 other principals nominated by their peers for the award. Jahnke will be officially honored next month by Missouri state representatives in Washington, D.C., and again in October, when she will visit the White House.

Janhke said it was an honor she would share with the entire Reed Elementary School community.

"I am so proud of my school and the kids," she said. "The parents are incredible."

Jahnke said it is parental support that provides the cornerstone for academically successful students. Some of her students are so excited about learning, Jahnke said, that there are about 50 students on any given morning waiting to get into school before the doors open.

Jahnke said teachers and other staff at Reed Elementary do their best to accommodate the different learning styles of students, be they academically challenged or academically excelling.

In addition, the school places a great deal of value on the "culture of character," Jahnke said.

"We hope we are teaching students to be strong academically as well as be good citizens and contribute to the world in a positive way," she said.

Janhke said she believes she was nominated by her peers because they can see the excitement of the work at Reed Elementary.

Reed Elementary was named a Missouri Gold Star School in April 2005.

Schools honored with Gold Stars from the state are required to meet one of two criteria, including dramatically improving math and reading skills on state assessment tests for more than three years, as well as performing in the top 10 percent of all schools on state assessments.

You can contact Erin Taylor at etaylor@yourjournal.com.