For the third consecutive year, Evergreen Heights Elementary is a Washington School of Distinction award winner.

The Auburn school was one of 37 schools in the Puget Sound Educational Service District (ESD) region recently to earn the honor, which recognizes those schools that show sustained improvement over a five-year period in reading/English language arts (ELA) and math.

“The success of our school is a result of hard work, high expectations and collaboration between staff, students and parents,” said Principal Anne Gayman. “Go Hawks.”

Evergreen Heights also was recognized as a National Title I School of Distinction last December, the second time it had received the honor.

The awards were created in 2007 to recognize the highest improving schools in the state. The awards are not intended as a replacement for state and federal accountability measures of school performance, but rather as supplemental measures to recognize and celebrate school staff, students, and leaders who improve performance for all students over a sustained period of time.

In March, the Elementary School Principals Association of Washington selected Gayman as a Washington State Regional Distinguished Principal for South King County.

Selected by one’s colleagues, the Distinguished Principal recognition is awarded based on candidate’s contributions to professional growth and development, educational excellence, community relations and humanitarian activities.

Gayman was one of 16 principals recognized from regions throughout the state.