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March 02, 2010

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - The Southern Regional Professional Development Center's "Distinction in Performance" Banquet will take place 6 - 8 p.m., Monday, March 8 in the Connor Ballroom on the third floor of Billingsly Student Center at Missouri Southern State University. 
 
A total of 17 school districts from Region 10 will be recognized for their academic progress and achievement during the last school year (2008-09). Sponsors for the event are the Southern Regional Professional Development Center, the Missouri Southern State University School of Education, and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Opening remarks/welcome will be made by Missouri Southern President, Dr. Bruce Speck.  Sybl Slaughter, a member of the Missouri State Board of Education, and Stan Johnson, Assistant Commissioner for School Improvement for DESE are scheduled to attend.

Southern Regional Professional Development Center is one of 11 established by DESE in the state of Missouri. Southern RPDC serves 39 districts in southwest Missouri including Barry, Barton, Cedar, Dade, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton and Vernon counties.  The Southern RPDC office opened in Webb City in August, 2009.
 
The Distinction in Performance Award originated in 2001. It is determined each year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  Criteria used is based on 14 academic standards including MAP test scores, attendance and dropout rates, ACT college-entrance test scores and other measures used in the accreditation of all public school districts.
 
To qualify for the award this year K-8 districts had to meet six out of seven performance standards that apply to these districts, including those based on the results of the MAP tests.  K-12 districts had to meet 13 of 14 standards, including all of the MAP-based measures.
 
Southern RPDC congratulates the school districts from Region 10 for earning the prestigious Distinction in Performance recognition for academic progress and achievement.  Overall, 319 school districts statewide, earned the coveted award providing a yearly confirmation of a district's status and state-level recognition of its overall performance.

The following school districts will be in attendance at the Distinction in Performance banquet:
 

* Carl Junction R-1
* Carthage R-IX
* Dadeville R-II
* Diamond R-IV
* East Newton County R-VI
* Golden City R-III
* Greenfield R-IV
* Joplin R-VIII
* Lockwood R-I
* McDonald County R-I
* Neosho R-V
* Nevada R-V
* Pierce City R-VI
* Seneca R-VII
* Webb City R-VII
* Westview C-6
* Wheaton R-III