Broken Arrow School students and staff got a surprise Monday – the Governor’s Achievement Award.

Superintendent Randy Weseman showed up at a scheduled assembly to present the award to Principal Brian McCaffrey.

“I believe that we have the best teaching staff in the state,” McCaffrey said. “Every once in a while when you get an award it shows the hard work they’ve put in.”

Broken Arrow received the award because of its excellent academic standings – it achieved the Kansas Standard of Excellence in reading and math in all grades. Grades three through six are tested in reading and math and all achieved the grade level standard of excellence. Broken Arrow also made Adequate Yearly Progress.

Broken Arrow ranks academically in the top 5 percent of elementary schools in the state.

“It just pays off. I was happy for them today because from our kindergarten teachers to our sixth-grade teachers and the support staff that we have, they all work as a team and they do a tremendous job of teaching and learning,” McCaffrey said.

Only 44 schools in the state received the Governor’s Achievement Award.