2011 National Blue Ribbon School

United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced September 15 that Sunflower Elementary School was selected to receive the highest educational award by the department of education – the National Blue Ribbon Award.  Sunflower Elementary is the first school in USD 231 history to receive this prestigious honor.

The National Blue Ribbon program honors elementary and secondary schools  which students achieve in the top 15 percent in the state on reading and mathematics assessments regardless of demographics. 

Each year since 1982, the U.S. Department of Education has sought out schools where students attain and maintain high academic goals.  A committee consisting of school administrators, staff members from previously honored NBR schools, Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), the Kansas Association of School Boards, and the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals review data on schools deemed to have dramatically improved to high levels and those achieving at high levels regardless of demographics. These selected schools are then nominated by the Kansas Department of Education to the United States Secretary of Education.  Once nominated, a lengthy application is required to be submitted to the US Department of Education by the nominated school. 

Governor's Achievement Award  2010

Sunflower Elementary School has been the recipient of the prestigious Governor's Achievement Award for 2010  The award identifies Sunflower Elementary School as ranking among the top 5% of elementary schools in the state, based on our performance on the annual Kansas State Assessments.

Kansas State Standard of Excellence School

Have you noticed the banners hanging in our parking lot? They celebrate our achievements on the annual Kansas State Assessments!

Students and staff at Sunflower Elementary School have achieved the State Standard of Excellence in both third and fourth grade Math and Reading for six consecutive testing years:  2006-2011. 

KSDE Horizon Award Winning Teachers

Amber Nichols, Katherine O'Toole, & Katy Wells

The Horizon Award for first-year teachers recognizes new teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. Teachers are nominated by their school district during the fall of their second year with the district.  Each school district may nominate one elementary and one secondary level candidate. 

2009 Kansas Master Teacher

Bev Furlong

Sunflower is also home to one of seven teachers in the 2009 class of Kansas Master Teachers selected by Emporia State University.