Alabama State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice, center, chats with Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler, from left, Dana Trulock and Madison Mayor Troy Trulock at Rainbow Elementary School. Rainbow been named a National PTA School of Excellence. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Rainbow Elementary School has been named a National PTA School of Excellence, an honor so distinctive that Dr. Tommy Bice, Alabama State Superintendent of Education, visited to give his congratulations.

“This is a first not just for Madison, but it’s the only one in the state. That speaks volumes for the community and the school,” Bice told the audience in Rainbow’s library on Aug. 26.

Bice’s Madison visit coincided with his “Future of Public Education” statewide tour.

The National School of Excellence program recognizes achievements in building effective family-school partnerships among teachers, parents and administrators. (PTA.org/excellence).

“We’re the first and only in Alabama to be recognized as a National School of Excellence,” Rainbow PTA President Sonja Griffith said. “The award represents time and energy our parent volunteers log in each year at the school.”

Griffith cited PTA-supported programs, such as school-wide enrichment during teachers’ meetings, Parent University, Multicultural Night, Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) and Family Fitness Night.

The award also highlights Rainbow’s community support with grants and donations from Madison Street Festival, Optimist Club and corporate sponsors, along with a partnership with International Society of Huntsville. Griffith also commended volunteers like homeroom parents and helpers in the cafeteria and at the book fair.

“Another reason for success of Rainbow’s family-school partnership is Principal Dorinda White and Vice Principal Michael Gunner,” Griffith said.

White is excited at national recognition and said Rainbow is “blessed with an outstanding PTA board that drives parent involvement.” White and Gunner have brainstorming sessions for creative and innovative ways to bring parents into Rainbow. “This helps build a strong connection between our families and our school,” White said.

Parents frequently join their children for lunch, supervise field trips and “help in numerous ways around the building,” White said. “I firmly believe it takes all of us working together to help our children learn and grow.”

“Parent engagement is a deciding factor in student and school success,” Griffith said. “We’re very fortunate to live in a community that values education. It shows at Rainbow.”