Forest Lane Elementary School Honored with the Wisconsin Blue Ribbon Award
Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jill Underly visited the Montello School District on Thursday, March 26th, to celebrate Forest Lane Community School being named one of Wisconsin’s Blue Ribbon Schools for 2025.
Underly presented the district with a certificate honoring Forest Lane Community School on its enormous achievement. She then had the chance to tour several classrooms to see the work students and staff were doing to earn that honor.
District Administrator Elizabeth Calnin had a massive grin on her face after Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jill Underly presented her with an official Certificate honoring Forest Lane Community School being chosen as a Wisconsin Blue Ribbon School. The school was one of eight in the state chosen for the honor.
Before starting the tour, Calnin told Underly “We are incredibly honored to have you here and are excited to showcase what determined talent can accomplish with limited resources. We bring heart, pride, and passion to everything we do—and today, you’ll see exactly what makes us special.”
A group of school leaders and staff who helped write the Blue Ribbon application then showed Dr. Underly around the school, highlighting the work they were doing to achieve student success. They visited a Kindergarten Gym class, fifth grade math classes, and a sixth grade social studies class, all taught by teachers who also helped contribute towards the application.
At the end of the visit Calnin summed the tour up by saying “We’re small but mighty. We have a lot of pride in what we’re doing here and we will continue to do great things on behalf of children”.
In a Facebook post after the tour, Underly said “Forest Lane Elementary School was recently named a Wisconsin Blue Ribbon School and is an exemplary example of staff going above and beyond for students so they can excel. From putting lessons in P.E., to math work, to a WWII history match game in social studies (which I found myself immediately invested in), these kids are receiving thoughtful, careful, and considered education thanks to their teachers and administrators who want the best for them.”
