Washington, Mar 11, 2004 - Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) today announced Roswell High School in Roswell, New Mexico has been named one of twelve Breakthrough High Schools in the nation by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The Breakthrough High Schools project identifies and showcases exemplary high schools that have met the challenges of low-income/high minority student populations.

"Roswell High School's success is one of the best examples of school turn-around I have seen," said Pearce, who visited the school twice last year. "No Child Left Behind gives schools the resources, flexibility and local control to make great changes. I am excited and proud to see these changes occurring in our state and for our children."

The Breakthrough Schools serve as attainable models for other schools to raise student achievement, prevent dropouts, increase graduation rates, and prepare their students for postsecondary education. Only two of the twelve high schools chosen are traditional high schools serving grades 9-12; Roswell High School was one of the two.

According to Roswell High School Principal Mike Kakuska, "To explain the success of Roswell High School, you have to look at three ingredients: we have fantastic teachers, a community that strongly supports our school, and our students. Also, we have a credo here: Dinosaurs disappeared because they did not change. If something doesn't work, we change it."

Kakuksa currently serves as Council to the President of the United States, George W. Bush, on the No Child Left Behind Act. He also serves as Executive Director of the New Mexico Association of Secondary School Principals and was recently appointed to the New Mexico Office of Education Accountability Community Advisory Committee.

"The success of Roswell High School is indicative of the dedication of its faculty and staff. Rather than watch students slip farther behind, Principal Kakuska, his staff and the community have used the resources available in No Child Left Behind to make important changes. I am excited to see this growth and stimulation in our schools and encourage other educators to begin to make changes in their schools." said Pearce.

###