Photo: Burbank Principal Tricia Clifford with state rep Dave Rogers (left) and state sen. Will Brownsberger. 

A pair of Belmont elementary schools were the toast of Beacon Hill as each received recognition for stellar work in education.

The Daniel Butler Elementary and Mary Lee Burbank Elementary schools were honored at the Massachusetts State House in a ceremony held Wednesday, Feb. 1 recogning 51 Bay State schools for high achievement, making strong progress, narrowing achievement gaps or a combination of all three.

The Butler school was honored for receiving the 2016 National Blue Ribbon Award given by the U.S. Department of Education for achieving at a “very high level,” while the Burbank school was saluted as a Massachusetts Commendation School for their high academic progress. The Butler received the National Blue Ribbon award in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. in November.

State Rep. Dave Rogers (l) Principals Michael McAllister (formerly Butler, now heading the Chenery Middle School in Belmont) and Danielle Betancourt (Butler), State Sen. Will Brownsberger at the Massachusetts State House.

Principals Michael McAllister (formerly Butler, now heading the Chenery Middle School in Belmont), Danielle Betancourt (Butler), Tricia Clifford (Burbank), and Belmont Superintendent John Phelan attended the ceremony. Also in attendance were State Rep. David Rogers and State Sen. William Brownsberger. There were opening remarks by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester, the Secretary of Education Jim Peyser, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito presented the awards.

For more information, and a complete list of the 51 Massachusetts schools honored, head to the Mass Department of Education web site.

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