Thurgood Marshall and Abbott Elementary were recognized with the 2022 California Pivotal Practice (CAPP) Award, which acknowledges their outstanding efforts in supporting their students’ academic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presented by the California Department of Education, the CAPP Award celebrates schools and districts who demonstrated excellence and implemented innovative practices during the 2020-21 school year, when California schools were required to offer distance learning during the pandemic.
Thurgood Marshall Elementary teachers and staff were recognized for their work to create a “culture of service,” striving to provide families with any information or tools they needed to help their students continue to excel academically during distance learning.
Thurgood Marshall offices remained open for parents and students throughout the pandemic, and many staff and teachers expanded their roles to help serve the community. Nurses and other staff members assisted with clerical work and keeping the community informed while classes were offered virtually.
Thurgood Marshall Elementary also focused on boosting student morale through social media updates and virtual ceremonies that highlighted student success, such as their student of the month virtual assemblies. Their primary goal was keeping the students connected to the school and its culture.
“We all came together as a team to help students and parents,” Thurgood Marshall Principal Deette Clay said. “It was a whole-school endeavor, and I would like to continue the practices of community services we have implemented in the future.”
Abbott Elementary was celebrated for their efforts to enrich the student learning process in order to maintain a high quality of education during the virtual learning period. Abbott Elementary teachers and staff strived to reinforce student learning and integrate creativity and the arts into the learning process.
By quickly implementing virtual learning, Abbott Elementary was able to prioritize their students’ health during the pandemic.
“This award validates the hard work and commitment to our community that was demonstrated by our office and teaching staff,” Abbott Elementary Principal Kevin Cano said. “It’s a celebration of the amazing work they do.”
Principal Cano credits much of Abbott Elementary’s success over the past two years to their community liaison, secretaries, nurses and particularly the campus monitors, who stayed present on campus during distance learning to facilitate the delivery of materials to students and families.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to the entire world, particularly academic communities,” Superintendent Dr. Gudiel Crosthwaite said. “It is an honor to have been recognized for the hard work of our faculty and staff, who have ensured that our students continue to receive a high-quality education despite the obstacles of the last few years.”