The District Insider
Volume 8, Issue 5 | December 2020
Zettler Receives Air Force Association Accolade
The Air Force Association (AFA) has selected Paul Zettler, information technology teacher at Red River High School, as the recipient of the 2020 AFA Chapter Teacher of the Year award.
The purpose of the program is to recognize classroom teachers at the chapter and state level for their accomplishments and achievements in exciting K-12 students about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and preparing students to use and contribute to tomorrow’s technologies.
“Paul has been instrumental with the promotion and advancement of cybersecurity, both within Grand Forks Public Schools and across the state of North Dakota,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology at Grand Forks Public Schools. “Paul has been instrumental in also expanding the participation within the Girls Go CyberStart competition within the district and across the state through his advocacy efforts. I feel extremely fortunate to have Paul as a staff member.”
Zettler has taught information technology at Red River for 11 years. In the past five years, Zettler has advised 123 girls in the Girls Go CyberStart competition, initiated the offering of cybersecurity courses during the 2018-2019 school year, founded the Grand Forks chapter of Girls Who Code during the 2016-2017 school year, advised students in the CyberPatriot IX competition in 2016-2017, and advises the Skills-USA chapter at Red River High School.
“There have been a couple of times that being recruited for something was the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Zettler. “The first was I was recruited for the U.S. Navy, leading to serving my country, traveling, and obtaining technical training to lay the groundwork for who I am today. The second was being asked to fill an information technology position at Red River High School. It was a life-changing event that set my teaching career on a new path. I am grateful to receive the award and see it as an opportunity to recognize the students that I have had the pleasure to serve. They are the cornerstone to our success.”
Zettler learned of the honor during a virtual presentation on November 12. The presentation was also held to celebrate Red River High School finishing 1st in the state of North Dakota in the Girls Go CyberStart U.S. national high school cybersecurity competition in May 2020.
The AFA Teacher of the Year program dates back to the early 1990s when the mission to recognize classroom teachers (K-12) for their innovative and successful instructional programs originally began.
Foundation for Education Awards $11,257 for Local School Projects
The Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Inc. is awarding $11,257 this fall to help fund a variety of enrichment projects in Grand Forks Public Schools.
The Mini-Grants have been funded through the Foundation for Education since 1992. Awards are usually for classroom-level or grade-level projects. All areas of curriculum and all grade levels are eligible for Mini-Grants.
Mini Grants Recipients:
- $99 Autumn Hanson and South Middle School for Zoom in on Art/FACS Classroom Materials.
- $247 Dana Kennelly and the STEP Program for STEP Nature Experience.
- $403 Maren Dewar and Grand Forks Central High School for Script and Audition Preparedness and Resources.
- $475 Kiya Knable and Viking Elementary School for SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Growth.
- $520 Lynneah Boyer and Lake Agassiz Elementary School for Lake Agassiz Ukuleles.
- $525 Tracy Whalen and Lake Agassiz Elementary School for Exploring Countries.
- $650 Becky Mercer and South Middle School for Piano Keyboards.
- $841 Joseph Drumm and Grand Forks Central High School for Go-Link Interfaces for Science.
- $1,000 Andrea Eklund and Red River High School for Social Justice Literature Circle Novels.
- $1,073 Emily Lundby and Adaptive PE Program for Switches for All.
- $1,453 Nancy Greenwood and Grand Forks Central High School for Class of Glass.
- $1,500 Angela Salgado and the Virtual Academy Program for Concrete Reading in a
- Virtual Environment.
- $2,471 Dan Schraeder and Elroy Schroeder Middle School for Engineer and Design Process in Action.
From A Whole New Perspective
Thank you, Tecta America Dakotas, for donating a drone to Grand Forks Public Schools. It will be used to monitor moisture on our roofs to reduce repair costs and it will also provide a real-world learning opportunity for our students who will operate it (photo courtesy Grand Forks Foundation for Education).
Slime Time
As part of the 2020 United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Area fundraising, Marty McDonald from Scheels nominated Superintendent Dr. Terry Brenner to take the #SuperheroSlime challenge. Upon completion (see video above), Dr. Brenner challenged Todd Feland (Grand Forks city administrator) and Mark Rerick (GFPS athletic director).
Examples of Excellence
Congratulations to Red River High School's Kaylee Lancaster on being selected as the 2020 EDC Senior Athlete of the Year in volleyball! Lancaster and Alex Page (Red River High School) were named to the All-EDC Volleyball Team.
Congratulations to Zoie Frattin (Grand Forks Central High School) on being named to the 2020 Girls' Swimming and Diving All-State First Team!
Congratulations to Grand Forks Central's Ty Lorenz and Sam Strandell, as well as Sam Sather from Red River High School, on being selected to the 2020 All-EDC Football Team.
- Congratulations to Gannon Brooks (Red River High School) and Colten Mitchell (Grand Forks Central High School) on being named to the 2020 Class A Boys Soccer First Team All-State! A job well done to Angel De La Cruz (Red River High School), Morgan Hoefs (Red River High School), and Jackson Macho (Grand Forks Central High School) on being selected to the Second Team.
- Congratulations to Claire Hynek (Grand Forks Central) for earning All-State honors for her 14th place finish at the NDHSAA State A Girls' Cross Country Championship! On the boys' side, Hunter McHenry (Red River High School, 8th place) and Quinn Roehl (Grand Forks Central High School, 11th place) were named to the NDHSAA State A Boys' Cross Country All-State team.
- Check out this great article about Grand Forks Central graduate Matthew Peterson. The article expands on the true-crime opera Voir Dire (French for, "to speak the truth") that Peterson composed.
- Congratulations Officer Jay Farmer, school resource officer at Grand Forks Public Schools, on being named a Corporal with the Grand Forks Police Department.
Job Openings
Certified Staff
Support Staff
Shuttle Monitor - Morning Shift
Snow Removal (on-call)
Custodian (part-time)
Intervention Title I Paraprofessional - Century Elementary School
Executive Assistant - Grand Forks Foundation for Education
Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional - Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
Coaching
- Assistant Softball Coach - Grand Forks Central High School
Upcoming Events
- December 2 - Early Release (middle and high schools - 1 p.m.; elementary schools - 1:30 p.m.)
- December 14 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
- December 15 - Grand Forks Air Force Base Meeting (12 p.m.)
- December 16 - Early Release (middle and high schools - 1 p.m.; elementary schools - 1:30 p.m.)
- December 23-January 1 - No School K-12
- December 24-25 - District Office Closed
- January 1 - District Office Closed
- January 4 - School Resumes