By Erin Wiltgen

chh@heraldsun.com; 419-6654

HILLSBOROUGH -- If rags to riches embodies the American dream, then Central Elementary School achieved the schoolhouse version.

Classified as a Title I school no more than three years ago, indicating students were at risk of failure and the school had a high level of students at or near the poverty level, Central Elementary School in Hillsborough rose from the ashes to receive the N.C. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's 2010 Lighthouse Award, a prestigious prize given to five of the top K-12 schools in the state.

"We've worked really hard, really hard," said Clara Daniels, principal of Central Elementary for the past two years. "It tells us that all the hard work is paying off, and it's good to know that we're doing what's best for the children."

A panel sifts through hundreds of nominations each year to honor at least one North Carolina school with the Lighthouse School Award. The panel considers a school's leadership, excellence in student achievement and innovative programs.

This year's five winners will receive a plaque, a $500 check and a professional photograph at the association's annual conference in Pinehurst on Feb. 11. The association won't release the names of the other recipients until the ceremony.

The schools were notified Jan. 5.

"They were thrilled beyond belief," said Michael Gilbert, public information officer for Orange County Schools. "It's a huge boost for them. It's part of the real renaissance that's happened at Central."

And that transformation wasn't easy.

"It has been a journey," Daniels said. "It's sort of like starting out and taking a trip. You know where you want to be, and there's so many ways to get there."

As with any trip, Daniels said, they took a few wrong turns, trying things that didn't work. But the key is to just keep moving.

"As educators, we always take risks," she said. "Just having a staff that's caring about children and wanting children to do well and holding high expectations for the children that they teach."

And that philosophy entered Central Elementary's mind set when Daniels took the lead as principal, Gilbert said. Through her force of will and her energy, she was able to change the culture and vision of the school.

"Clara Daniels is an outstanding principal," Gilbert said. "She really believes that it's her staff that has driven the change, but you really can't overlook her leadership and vision, her dedication to her vision of what the school could and should be and getting the buy-in and support."

But true to Gilbert's word, Daniels emphasized the team effort essential to Central's achievement.

"Were it not for the very, very highly qualified and very able staff caring and genuine about student achievement; were it not for a very involved community of parents coming in and volunteering; and were it not for the support of others in the district, we certainly could not have made the changes that we've made," Daniels said. "Everything that's happened here at Central has been very much a collaborative effort."

Many changes have blossomed as a result of that effort. Not only did Central make physical changes to the building -- re-doing the lobby, replacing hallway tiles, putting new tables in the cafeteria -- the school also added a multitude of innovative programs.

"Our conversations are constantly about students and learning," Daniels said. "And I think that's one of the greatest changes. We're doing a lot to try to make our school inclusive and trying to pull the community in."

Part of that effort involves a partnership with the North Carolina Symphony, giving students the opportunity to attend open rehearsals, and a partnership with The ArtsCenter in Carrboro. Other programs such as Moms and Muffins, Dads and Donuts and the morning Coffee Talk have worked to increase parental involvement.

"We know that the more we can add in terms of experience into our knowledge, the better we're going to be able to understand those things that are in the text," Daniels said. "In terms of creating a culture of learning and a climate that's going to embrace that, that's been a key and will continue to be the key."

And though the school's progress over the last three years has been monumental, Daniels said Central Elementary hasn't yet reached its goal.

"We want this year to be even better than last and next year to be even better than that," she said.

Daniels doesn't know how she and the staff will decide to use the $500 from the Lighthouse Award, but she hopes to continue the expansion of innovative programs as part of the school's ongoing growth.

"Each year we increase our expectations of ourselves and our expectations of our students," Daniels said. "I have all the confidence in my staff, and we have a wonderful group of students. We're going to keep striving towards excellence, and we'll keep moving."

AWARD CEREMONY

Central Elementary School will be presented with the 2010 Lighthouse Award at the NCASCD Annual Conference

When: Feb. 11

Where: Pinehurst

The four other award recipients will be announced at the ceremony.