Mattoon Middle School was officially re-designated as a 2020 Illinois Horizon School to Watch by the National Forum To Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform’s Schools To Watch Program.
The site team was impressed with the degree to which MMS has fulfilled the criteria of the program. MMS notably showed vast improvement in the areas of culture and climate.
“Through Leader In Me, we look forward to our students guiding MMS to more recognitions of this nature,” said Nate Pugh, principal, MMS. “We are extremely happy for the dedication and commitment from our staff, students, guardians, community members, and Mattoon school district board members.”
The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform is an alliance of educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations and foundations committed to promoting the academic performance and healthy development of young adolescents.
To accomplish its goal of improved academic and developmental outcomes for all students in the middle grades, The Forum identifies and disseminates best practices, articulates and promotes effective policies, recognizes and develops enlightened leadership, and informs and engages the public.
Through its Schools to Watch® (STW) program, the Forum has developed criteria for identifying high-performing middle-grades schools, and created tools to help schools use the criteria and expand the program states across the United States and selected and honored hundreds of successful schools across the country during the Annual STW Conference.