Grades: K-5
Executive Director: Brenda Olshever
Website: www.matescharter.org
During its forty-five years, Meadows Elementary had a solid history in teaching excellence along with a passion for the arts. In fact, the longstanding use of innovative teaching methods once considered “progressive,” are now considered “best teaching practices.”
Meadows Elementary was a school that had always been on the cutting edge. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s under the leadership of principal Dr. Tim Stephens, the entire staff went through intensive training and in 1993 earned approval to become a Restructuring School.
Meadows Elementary did not go unrecognized in its delivery of positive educational programs that resulted in solid achievement outcomes. It was the first school in the entire district, elementary through high school, to receive the National Blue Ribbon Award in 1997. Meadows Elementary also held the rare distinction of being a three-time recipient of the California Distinguished School Award.
In search of innovative ways of teaching, better ways of reaching out to all students, and looking ahead to the future, the Meadows staff and community prepared for the initiation of a new program that would attract students to the district school system and institute a more focused program to achieve greater success in educating all children. The Meadows community was poised, prepared, trained, and ready to embark on the journey to become an Arts Magnet School.
Tragically, the school board of Conejo Valley Unified School District voted in March of 2008 to CLOSE two of its three National Blue Ribbon elementary schools, Meadows being one of them, due to a district-wide decline in enrollment.
With immense support, a large group of parents decided to unite and the charter movement was born. This charter school would reflect as closely as possible the very components that have made Meadows Elementary such a force in the educational community. The drive for excellence remains and will continue in this new charter school.