Emerson Elementary School was named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of America’s quintessential essayists and poets. Emerson’s work influenced generations of American thinkers that followed, just as Emerson Elementary is shaping and influencing the next generation of students inside its walls.

Location: 1616 West Octave Ave.
Phone: 509-543-6792

Principal: Josette Mendoza

Year Opened: current building in 1998
Enrollment: 541 Mascot: Eagle
School Colors:
Teal & grey
Total Teachers: 32
Total Staff: 61
Number of Portable Classrooms: 1

Ethnicity:
      White 4%          Hispanic 90.7%
      Asian 2%           Multiracial .3%
      Black or African American 1.3%

Free and Reduced Lunch: 93.7%
English Language Learners: 65.4%

School Motto: We are great and getting greater. Soaring on to graduation.

Emerson’s 2012-13 PEAK! Partners:

Miranda   Pasco Christian Church
The current Emerson location was opened in 1998 but a portion of the original school, built in 1954, still exists now as the Boys and Girls Club. The original building was designed in the style of Mark Twain Elementary.

Previous Emerson principals include Kathy Hayden, now Executive Director of Curriculum and Professional Development, and Robin Hay, McGee Principal.

Unique to the Emerson campus is the Skills, Opportunity and Recognition (SOAR) Program, which helps selected students in grades 2-5 from across the district learn to manage and improve their behavior.

Emerson also implemented The Self Managers Program for behavior management in January. Students must apply and be accepted into program which means they accept responsibility for their own behavior. Students with good behavior can earn privileges, such as walking out to recess in front of class, having access to more comfy chairs, and having lunch with their principal, among others. However, a student with poor behavior can lose their program badge and must go through the difficult application process again if they wish to be re-accepted into the program.

EmersonEmerson just held its successful Cuddle up with a Book event on Jan. 26 and is already looking forward to its Dr. Seuss Reads a Book event in March—the exact date has yet to be determined. Farther down the road, Emerson is planning a special treat for its students, an Authors’ Day devoted to the students’ own works.