A surprise ceremony at the Coal Bowl playground Tuesday morning celebrated Ralph Andrews, principal of S.S. Palmer Elementary and Parkside Education Center, for guiding both schools to become the first in Carbon or Monroe counties to earn Lighthouse Certification through the Franklin Covey Leader in Me program.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley presented Andrews with a proclamation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, praising the achievement as a milestone for the schools and the community.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had the chance to deliver a citation like this, and to see all the students out here this morning is remarkable,” Heffley said. “This is what public education is all about — helping our young people grow and become the best they can be. Thank you, Mr. Andrews, for that dedication.”

The Lighthouse designation recognizes schools that excel in teaching leadership principles, creating a leadership culture and aligning academic systems.

Andrews told students and staff he was unprepared for the honor, but emphasized that the award reflected their collective work.

“This would not be possible without the adults standing around you here,” Andrews said. “I can sit in my office and write up all the plans and create all the initiatives we want, but without a staff willing to implement them and without students stepping up into leadership roles, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Andrews said students have embraced the leadership model, making the transition to Lighthouse status seamless.

“All I had to do was shine a light on what you were already doing and give you the opportunity to step into those leadership roles, which you’ve done,” Andrews told the students. “I look forward to the younger students continuing the tradition that our older students have set.”

The recognition came after years of effort. Andrews told the Palmerton Area School Board earlier this month that the schools set a goal of reaching Lighthouse status in seven years, but accomplished it in four.

“This recognition is not handed out easily,” he said. “The Lighthouse School means that we built a strong culture of leadership, academics and community. Our students are not only learning about leadership but are actively living it every day in their classrooms, in the hallways and beyond our school walls.”

Heffley noted that the staff at S.S. Palmer and Parkside “prioritize success in furthering the intellectual, social and physical growth of all their students and offer instructional programs that meet the highest academic standards.”

Andrews said persistence paid off getting staff to embrace the program.

“At first many probably felt this was just another thing being added to the plate,” he said. “Our Lighthouse team felt differently. We believed it could have a huge impact on our school and community, and we were dedicated to implementing it with fidelity. It created opportunities for students to take ownership and discover their voices. Now they’re running morning announcements, leading assemblies, organizing service projects, mentoring peers and even taking part in parent-teacher conferences.”

Several students described how the program has influenced them.

“I will use what it has taught me for my time management and also to handle more responsibilities going into middle school this year,” student Sean Goodbread said during September’s school board workshop.

Andrews credited three staff teams with helping the schools earn the designation: leadership, culture and academics.

“Thanks to them, leadership is embedded in our daily practices, and every student from kindergarten to sixth grade experiences it,” Andrews said. “Our culture team built a foundation of belonging and positivity, while our academic team aligned instruction with our school wide goals. It shows that leadership and learning go hand in hand.”

While celebrating the designation, Andrews stressed that it was not the final step.

“Lighthouse School status is not the finish line for us; it is just a milestone,” he said. “It validates the work we’ve done together as a staff, but it also challenges us to keep growing and keep shining the light for our students and our community.”