NIU and the Illinois State Board of Education are recognizing 26 “Spotlight Schools” throughout the state for their academics - including one in DeKalb.

The schools, which range from pre-kindergarten to high school, have a majority of students who come from low-income families, yet still excel academically.

Marilyn McConachie, director of the Spotlight Schools Project for NIU Outreach, said NIU did research in 2002 about schools that had a high academic performance level and a high level of poverty. She said they then went to the Illinois State Board of Education and recommended awards be given to these schools. The board agreed.

McConachie said it’s important to honor these students and schools, because no one expects them to excel.

“These schools take every kind of student from every type of background, and these kids do fabulous work,” McConachie said.

In order to be considered a Spotlight School, there are four main criteria that have to be met.

At least 50 percent of the school must be composed of low-income students. At least 50 percent of the students must have met or exceeded state standards in reading and math in 2002, and 60 percent in 2003.

The school also must show that adequate yearly progress has been made. Schools must have a 95 percent participation rate in state assessments for all students. At least 40 percent of students must meet or exceed standards in both reading and mathematics. Schools also must have an attendance rate of 88 percent for elementary and middle schools and 65 percent for high schools.

McConachie said less than half of all state schools showed adequate yearly progress.

DeKalb’s Jefferson Elementary School was one of the 26 schools recognized on this year’s list.

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Merri-Lynne Seaburg credits her “wonderful” staff for the students’ success, and said they try to treat their students as if they were their own kids.

“We try to think what would we want for our own child,” Seaburg said. “It’s a huge bond of trust that the families give us to help their students.”

Seaburg said her staff doesn’t do anything special to prepare students for the math and reading tests. She said it’s a process that goes on year-round that includes establishing goals and expectations for their students.

Jefferson will accept its award at a ceremony later this week in Naperville.

This is the first year of the Spotlight Schools program, and McConachie said NIU plans to continue it on an annual basis.

Nicole Hockings said she exposed her son to her Native American culture at a early age, and that this is important for all Native American families.

“Some Native kids grow up with parents who don’t show them the culture,” she said.

Hockings was one of the dancers Saturday at the N.A.T.I.O.N.S. Powwow. N.A.T.I.O.N.S. is the Native American student group on campus. The annual event, now in its 11th year, draws a large crowd and showcases Native American dancing and vendors with Native American merchandise.

Hockings stressed the importance of the powwow to exposing people to the culture. Her mother, Charlotte, also a dancer at the powwow, said there are hurdles Native American people need to overcome.

Charlotte teaches first grade in Milwaukee and said Minocqua High School has problems with racism directed at the Native American people, which leads to violence. Some of the racism even comes from the teachers at the school.

“If I asked how racist they are, they would be in denial,” Charlotte said.

Charlotte is part of the Intercultural Leadership Incentive program, which actively deals with problems by answering questions about racism.

“We’re trying to do something that nobody thinks can succeed,” Charlotte said. She said people do not believe her group can solve a problem that has gone on for generations.

Charlotte’s husband John Hockings, the head male dancer who performed at the powwow, said the school system in general teaches wrong information about Native Americans.

Often, teachers who are not fully versed in the culture teach what people have accepted as the truth of the Native American history, John said.

“They would rather have things the way they are,” John said.

America is in a “massive state of denial in how it treated African-Americans, Hispanics and Chinese” as well as the Native American people, John said.

Thanksgiving was not a big celebration between pilgrims and Native Americans, John said. He said it was a massacre of 600 Paqua Native Americans. The pilgrims made up the story in order to get more people from Europe to be less afraid of Native Americans and come to America.

“They have to start telling the truth,” John said.

Because of poor ticket sales, the Paul Colman Trio show scheduled for Thursday at the Convocation Center has been canceled.

Kevin Selover, marketing manager for the Convocation Center, said ticket sales for the event were struggling.

“The promoter of the show thought it was in his and our best interests to pull the show,” he said.

Selover said he could not disclose the number of tickets sold.

The decision to cancel the show was made Tuesday, he said, but was made official on Wednesday.

“The show is not going to be rescheduled,” Selover said. “If we felt that the show would be successful, we would’ve pushed ahead with it.”

The Paul Colman Trio was supposed to perform at the arena with guests The Elms and Sarah Kelly.

According to the Paul Colman Trio’s Web site, the band received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album in 2003 for its album “New Map of the World.” The group also won the 2003 Dove Award for New Artist of the Year.

Selover said everyone who bought a ticket for the show can get a full refund at the original point of purchase.

Night Light Promotions was the promoter of the event.