Checotah Intermediate’s staff and students we’re out at Lake Eufaula State Park on Monday, celebrating becoming a national blue-ribbon school.

Checotah Intermediate is one of only four schools in Oklahoma being honored this year with the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Jyme Beth Powell has taught fifth-grade math at the school for seven years.

Powell said they believe in a lot of positive reinforcement to get students to work at a high level academically.

"We all push our kids to meet their goals," Powell said.

Checotah Intermediate principal, Ryan Ambrose said this national attention is thanks to a lot of hard work by both students and staff.

The Oklahoma Department of Education said blue ribbon schools are often selected based on high state testing scores for reading, language arts, and math.

"To receive an honor that we can't go ask for we have to be nominated through our performance. It's quite the honor and we feel like it is well deserved," Ambrose said.

Principal Ambrose was also given the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership.

Only nine people across the country win this award each year and Ambrose is the only one selected from Oklahoma!

"It's a reflection on our whole staff and kids on how hard we work," Ambrose said.

The principal of Checotah Intermediate said the school will keep this status for five years. He said he plans on continuing the hard work.