(KAIR)--"Proud to be the first district in Kansas to receive this prestigious award!"

That statement is made in a release from Atchison's USD 409 following the public schools this week being recognized with what's known as a Visible Learning Partner Award.

The release explains that the school district, for the past four years, has been dedicated to implementing Visible Learning strategies, defined as an enhanced role for teachers as they become evaluators of their own teaching, with Visible Learning and Teaching occurring when teachers see learning through the eyes of students and help them become their own teachers. That's according to educator, academic, and author, John Hattie, whose studies of student learning became the basis of Visible Learning.

The release from the Atchison Public Schools says every school within USD 409, along with the district as a whole, is recognized with the award, presented "in honor of the incredible efforts [the school district's] teachers and staff have made to support student success."

The award was presented to USD 409 on Wednesday.