National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

Involved in education for more than two decades, Jon Ray serves as superintendent for the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District in Humboldt County, California. One of the jobs Jon Ray held prior to becoming superintendent in 2014 was principal of Westside Preparatory Charter School in Rio Linda, California. While he was there, the school earned honors from the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

As a part of the U.S. Department of Education, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program began in 1982. It recognizes public and private schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, evaluating their academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps. Since it began, the program has honored more than 7,500 schools across the country. Schools receive a flag to place at their entryway or fly outside the school to signify their excellence, and to honor the hard work not only of students, faculty and administration at the schools, but of their communities as well.