The District Insider
Volume 9, Issue 1 | August 2021
Jerde Named 2022 North Dakota Teacher of the Year Finalist
Shari Jerde, business education and family and consumer sciences teacher at Community High School, has been selected as one of four 2022 North Dakota Teacher of the Year finalists.
The finalists include Bret Dockter, a sixth-grade teacher at Harvey Elementary School; Heather Ell, a first-grade teacher at John Hoeven Elementary School in Minot; and Matt Nielson, an 11th and 12th grade science teacher at Valley City High School.
In May, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler honored teachers from 40 North Dakota counties as county Teachers of the Year. The four state Teacher of the Year finalists were drawn from that group. The superintendent plans to honor the state Teacher of the Year finalists at celebrations to be held this fall at their respective schools.
Jerde had also been named Grand Forks Public Schools Teacher of the Year in May.
“We have many outstanding educators in our state, and this group of four state Teacher of the Year finalists represent examples of our finest,” Baesler said. “They deserve our respect, admiration, and appreciation for the exceptional jobs that they do.”
The Teacher of the Year selection process is detailed in state law (NDCC 15.1-02-21). Dockter, Jerde, Nielson, and Ell will be interviewed by an eight-member screening committee, which will choose the 2022 Teacher of the Year. Baesler and Governor Doug Burgum are required to announce the winner by September 30.
“This past school year gave us another brilliant example of the important role our teachers play in the lives of our North Dakota students,” Baesler said. “So many of our teachers went above and beyond to make sure their students were safe, and able to continue learning despite the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
North Dakota’s Teacher of the Year will become a candidate for the national Teacher of the Year award, which is selected by the Council of Chief State School Officers, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents state education interests. Baesler is a member of the board of directors of the CCSSO.
Registration, Open House Dates Announced for Grand Forks Public Schools
Grand Forks Public Schools has announced school registration and open house dates and times for the 2021-2022 school year.
Classes will begin August 25 for students in kindergarten through 9th grade and August 26 for students in 10th through 12th grades.
Registration Schedule
- Elementary Schools: Elementary school offices are now open and you can register your student(s) by contacting the main office at the school.
- Elroy Schroeder Middle School: August 10 – 7th and 8th grades - 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; August 12 – 6th grade - 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Note: school pictures will be taken on both days. There will be a make-up day if a student cannot attend registration.
- South Middle School: August 10 – 8th grade/EL - 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; August 11 – 7th grade - 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; August 12 – 6th grade, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Valley Middle School: August 10 – 7th and 8th grades - 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; August 12 – 6th grade, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Nathan Twining Middle School: August 9, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 3 p.m. NOTE: Registration for Grand Forks Central High School students will be online.
- Grand Forks Central High School: Registration will be held online.
- Red River High School: Registration will be held online.
Open House Schedule
- Ben Franklin Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Century Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Discovery Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- J. Nelson Kelly Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Lake Agassiz Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Lewis and Clark Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Phoenix Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Viking Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Wilder Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Winship Elementary School: August 24, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Elroy Schroeder Middle School: August 23, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- South Middle School: August 23, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Valley Middle School: August 23, 2021, 5 – 7 p.m.
- Grand Forks Central High School: August 25, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Community High School: August 26, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Red River High School: August 25, 2021, 4 – 6 p.m.
Climbing to New Heights
Members of the Red River High School Student Council spent some time at the Character Challenge Course in late July (photo courtesy Red River High School).
Headed East
Earlier this summer, dozens of students and parents/guardians from Elroy Schroeder Middle School were bused to Washington, D.C. to learn more about the U.S. government. The photo above was taken in General Washington's backyard (photo courtesy Jeremy Cebula).
Hall of Famer
Congratulations to Red River High School track and field coach Tim Delmore on being inducted into the North Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame!
Helpful Hands
Thank you to students in our Helping Hands program who helped serve lunch for clients at Northland Rescue Mission in July. The students also helped unload a truckload of food donations (photo courtesy Northlands Rescue Mission).
STEMKAMP Lands at Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School
In July, Grand Forks Public Schools partnered with Gosen Education Consulting to provide students with a one-week STEMKAMP experience. The purpose of STEMKAMP to help spark students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. The opportunity was available for students in 3rd-8th grades, with a focus on military-connected students. STEMKAMP will return the next two summers, with funding provided by a Department of Defense National Defense Education program.
Job Openings
Certified
- Adaptive Physical Education Teacher
- Special Education Teacher - Emotional Disturbance
- Special Education Teacher - district-wide
- School Psychologist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Create a Teacher Application
Support Staff
- Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
- Security Officer - Red River High School
- Paraprofessional - EL - Century Elementary School
- Paraprofessional - Instructional - Special Education
- Paraprofessional - Instructional - Wilder Elementary School
- Site Coordinator - ENCORE Program
- Custodian - Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
- Cook Application Pool
- Paraprofessional - Assistive Technology
- Custodial Supervisor
- Custodian (part-time) - South Middle School
- Paraprofessional - Instructional - Century Elementary School
- Paraprofessional - Instructional - Ben Franklin Elementary School
- Custodian - Grand Forks Central High School
- Custodian - Century Elementary School
- Paraprofessional - ENCORE Program
- Custodian - Wilder Elementary
- Custodian (part-time)- Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
Athletics
- Assistant Girls' Basketball Coach - Grand Forks Central High School
- Head Girls' Wrestling - Red River High School
- Head Girls' Wrestling - Grand Forks Central High School
- Boys' Soccer Head Coach - Elroy Schroeder Middle School
Upcoming Events
- August 9: Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6:30 p.m., Valley Middle School)
- August 17: Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board Meeting (12 p.m., Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School)
- August 23-24: Teacher Professional Development/Preparation Days
- August 23: Grand Forks School Board Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
- August 23: Grand Forks School Board/Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board Retreat (6:15-9:30 p.m.)
- August 25: First Day of School (Kindergarten-9th grades)
- August 26: First Day of School (10th-12th grades)