Becki Blanco Principal

Principal’s Message

Payne Elementary School was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 1997. Payne received this prestigious award as recognition of our outstanding programs and achievements, specifically in the areas of student and staff morale, school beautification efforts, Character Education programs, and strategic planning.

At Payne School, we are committed to academic excellence and the social well being of every child. We hold high expectations of ourselves as teaching professionals and of students as learners. We believe all children at Payne School can learn to their full potential! We encourage parent participation and support throughout the year. By working as a team of teachers, students, and parents we can reach and celebrate achievements together.

To ensure student success, Payne School maintains a sharp focus on reading, language arts, and mathematical skills. The Open Court reading program provides a strong structure for reading instruction with components in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, and comprehension. Basic math fact drills and mathematical reasoning activities from Harcourt Math series have strengthened student skills and increased scores on the California Standards Tests. Payne School has fully implemented class-size reduction in grades kindergarten, first, second, and third. The 1:20 teacher-to-student ratio allows for more intense instruction and support for each child. This builds the foundation for success throughout their entire school career.

Payne School is working hard to achieve the best for its students and community. Through strong academic programs, parent involvement, and concerned and hardworking teachers and administrators, Payne School is a thriving and successful learning community.

Marie Blanco, PRINCIPAL