The Alabama Independent School Association awarded Morgan Academy this month as an AISA Blue Ribbon School for the 2012-2013 school year.

According to AISA, a Blue Ribbon School is a school that exemplifies excellence in teaching, student performance, school life and community interaction.

Morgan’s Director of Instruction, Karim Oaks said Morgan has received the Blue Ribbon Award every year since the award’s inception in 1970 and described the award as an evaluation tool that makes sure schools are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

“The AISA has some criteria or hoops that you have to jump through to be named a Blue Ribbon School,” Oaks said. “You have to have a school improvement plan, a listing of all of your goals — short term, intermediate and long term goals, and a technology plan. Then you list some basic things about your plan, like subjects that you teach, your personnel, if you’re certified or not. You also have to submit your SAT scores and list your extracurricular activities.”

Oaks mentioned several schools can be the recipient of this award each year, and reiterated that “it’s just kind of a way to make sure that your school is doing what they’re supposed to be doing and adhering to a certain standard.”

Morgan Headmaster Martha McKnight said she was not surprised to learn Morgan was awarded as a Blue Ribbon School again this year.

“It does not surprise me. I know that we have excellent teachers; I know that we have good strong students that are willing to do their part, and I know that it’s very important to the people here at Morgan to make sure that students do meet the challenges that are presented and do their best academically,” McKnight said. “We have a good, well-rounded group of kids. They do community service. They’re involved in academics. They’re involved in sports. They’re the busiest little group of people I’ve ever seen, and the teachers do the same thing.”

The AISA Blue Ribbon School program is sponsored by the AISA to recognize member schools with outstanding educational programs. According to AISA, Morgan Academy has attained a high level of excellence in the areas of student and teacher performance, plant and facilities, student life and community involvement, and is a very worthy recipient of the award.

“We have a history of academic excellence and success on the sports field,” McKnight said. “It’s just a good working relationship between the teachers and the students and you can see it in the awards that Morgan has won not just this year, but throughout the years.”