GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen Community Schools was surprised with a $50,000 award from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching for the district's focus on educator excellence and student success.

Goshen Superintendent Dr. Steve Hope accepted the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness Friday morning during the institute's national conference in Indianapolis.

The award is given to a school district that demonstrates a focus on supporting strong instruction and improving student performance.

Goshen was selected based on its years of commitment in investing in its' teachers' professional growth, fostering teacher leadership and growing student success.

A large majority of Goshen students are classified as economically disadvantaged. The district's population is also seeing a rise in English Language Learners.

"Goshen Community Schools has shown what can happen through a sustained focus on great classroom teaching," said NIET CEO Dr. Joshua Barnett. "A model district leadership team sets the stage to support all school leaders and teachers, which helps increase the retention of effective educators and produce academic improvement. We are excited to honor them today and believe every district in the nation should take note of their commitment to collaboration and teamwork."

"Goshen Community Schools has been in a relationship with NIET for a long time, and that relationship has grown and become stronger and stronger,” said Superintendent Dr. Steve Hope. "We come in with the goal of doing the very best we can for every single student every day because we have a moral, ethical obligation to do that, and we know that can change the trajectory of our students' lives."