The Broken Arrow School community is a family that supports one another. If someone is having a bad day, there’s always someone there to lean on.

Often that person is Principal Brian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey, his staff, students and parents are celebrating the school being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School for 2009.

The award honors schools for student achievement and helping close the achievement gap. To be considered, schools must have at least 40 percent of their students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who dramatically improve to high levels on state tests. Schools are also honored for achieving in the top 10 percent of their state on standardized tests. Broken Arrow met both standards.

McCaffrey knows every student in his school, not just by name, but by what matters to them as budding members of the community. That matters and can be seen in respect from teachers, parents and students alike.

Broken Arrow is being celebrated, and so should McCaffrey.