Southwest Middle School received the Silver Star of Innovation Award from the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals, according to a press release.

The Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals ​Star of Innovation Award is sponsored by Horace Mann and is designed to recognize MASSP​ member schools statewide for the development and support of an exemplary and innovative education program in their school.   

Mann has been a sponsor of the Star of Innovation Award since 2009. There are three categories of achievement — gold, silver and bronze. Two of the main criteria for this award are:

The degree to which the program demonstrates a positive impact on education and the advocacy of children

Creativity and imagination while bringing about positive school change

A panel of principals from around the state of Minnesota review all of the applications and select programs for recognition.

For the 2017-18 school year, 19 schools were recognized for the programs they submitted. Of the 19 schools selected, nine were awarded bronze level awards, six were awarded silver level awards and four were awarded gold level awards.

Southwest Middle School was one of those selected for the Silver Star of Innovation Award for this year and was the only school selected for an award in southern Minnesota. 

Southwest Middle School submitted its new ALC Tigers program​ to the MASSP Star of Innovation committee. A team of administrators and teaching staff members​ identified 12-15 students from sixth and seventh grade to be a part of the two-classroom, multi-discipline program. They collaborated to create a program that is showing positive results for the participating students in a program very fitting of the district mission statement components of ensuring individual academic, social and emotional growth.

​The ALC Tigers program uses a “school within a school” model, allowing students both the program supports they need while allowing them access to other traditional school courses at Southwest Middle School. Some additional criteria the ALC Tigers program encompasses include: 

Smaller class sizes

Hands-on/experiential approach

Addressing individual students’ learning styles and needs

Increased communication and collaboration with families or guardians

Resources to assist with social-emotional needs

The program is showing increased academic success, decreased discipline referrals and an increased demonstration of socially acceptable choices and behaviors by the students in the program.   

According to the release, one student from the ALC Tigers program reportedly said, “I just wanted to tell all the staff members how amazing you guys are and how you guys help us. I love this school. There are amazing people and teachers and staff members here.”

This is the second time in four years that Southwest Middle School has been selected for the Silver Star of Innovation Award. In the 2014-15 school year, the Tigers Plus School-Wide Intervention program was recognized by MASSP. 

“Winning this award is an acknowledgment of how the staff at Southwest are not afraid to try new ideas and programs to continually improve how we meet the needs of our students,” said Southwest Middle School Principal Steve Kovach.