The District Insider
Volume 8, Issue 6 | January 2021
Jonasson Named Regional Principal of the Year
Angie Jonasson, principal at Lake Agassiz Elementary School, has been named the North Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals (NDAESP) Region 4 Principal of the Year.
The award is given to principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for the students, families, and employees in their learning communities.
The North Dakota Elementary School Regional Principal award winners will be recognized at the NDAESP award ceremony in early 2021. One regional principal will be selected to represent North Dakota at the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Distinguished Principal of the Year award ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 7-8, 2021.
“Principals nominate peers in their field who are demonstrating a high level of integrity doing the right work each and every day for students. I couldn't be happier for Angie on this well-deserved honor,” said Shari Bilden, NDAESP awards chair.
Jonasson has been employed with Grand Forks Public Schools for 23 years, first as a teacher, mentor, and now as an elementary school administrator.
“Angie Jonasson is an exemplary leader when it comes to curriculum, instruction, and social-emotional learning,” said Dr. Terry Brenner, superintendent of schools. “She has been a school system-wide leader on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support relating to student mental health as she has a wide array of tools in her toolkit to work with students regardless of where they are at on the continuum. Her ability to develop a school culture of common purpose is known across the district.”
“I'm proud of being a part of this school system for so long and the opportunity to grow through different roles offered,” said Jonasson.
The regional award also qualifies Jonasson to apply for the NAESP National Distinguished Principal of the Year award. The National Distinguished Principal program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who ensure students acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement.
The NAESP National Distinguished Principal of the Year award program was established in 1984 to recognize pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade public school principals from all across the country, as well as principals in U.S. private schools and those from the U.S. Departments of Defense Office of Educational Activity and the United States Department of State Office in Overseas Schools.
Grand Forks Public Schools Receives Homeland Security Grant
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a $535,000 grant from the North Dakota State Homeland Security Grant Program.
This grant will allow the school system to design and support a video surveillance system at all elementary, middle, and high school campuses that can be secured and managed under one platform. The system will also provide local law enforcement and school system crisis response teams full access to security data at all times.
The grant will include the purchase of 515 sensors, multi-directional cameras, a server, and will also cover license costs.
“Providing safe and secure schools is a priority of the district and the Homeland Security funding will be instrumental in both updating and expanding the security camera usage within all school buildings,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology.
The grant application was written by Ripley, Chris Arnold, director of buildings and grounds, Jeff Compton, network services coordinator, and Taunya Schleicher, grant writer at Grand Forks Public Schools.
Strandell Named Regional Principal of the Year
Jon Strandell, principal at Grand Forks Central High School, has been named a North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals (NDASSP) Regional Principal of the Year.
The award honors secondary school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.
The award winners will be recognized at the NDASSP award ceremony in early 2021. Each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools, and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity will select one middle level or high school principal to represent their state. From these state winners, three finalists are named as contenders for the National Principal of the Year award. The National Association of Secondary School Principal (NASSP) National Principal of the Year is selected from among the three finalists.
Strandell has over 25 years of experience in education and has served as principal at Grand Forks Central High School since July 2019.
“Jon Strandell is a learners-first instructional leader who well-navigates the complexities of today's contemporary principalship,” said Dr. Terry Brenner, superintendent of Grand Forks Public Schools. “Grand Forks Central High School has a long tradition of a culture of community between and among staff and students. It is because of Jon's leadership that those norms continue to thrive. One of Jon's most admired attributes is his insistence that recognitions and awards are not about him but, rather, about the entire community of Grand Forks Central High School. Our leadership team across the school system holds Jon in high regard and we are thrilled for him and Grand Forks Central."
The NASSP represents middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders from across the United States and more than 45 countries around the world. The organization’s mission is to promote excellence in school leadership.
Grand Forks Public Schools Receives GEER Grant
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a grant from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.
The fund, created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), allows the governor to provide support to local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to develop and improve the availability of distance/remote learning techniques and technologies. In collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, the governor’s office released a competitive grant program to support the unique challenges and inspire innovative practices associated with providing educational opportunities and local needs.
The $186,597 in funding support will be used to develop and support “The Mentor Center,” a central resource center for middle and high school students and families to receive academic, social-emotional, and technology support. The center will support students during the afternoon and evening hours with certified and classified academic staff, mental health professionals and technicians to support the district’s distance learning platform. Funding will also be used to support a mobile technology squad to provide on-site assistance. To further enhance the learning environment during these times, the school system will embed enrichment activity centers focusing on art, music, STEM, and social-emotional activities.
The grant application was written by Geoff Gaukler, mental health coordinator, Catherine Gillach, assistant superintendent of secondary education, Tricia Lee, executive director of special education, Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology, Taunya Schleicher, grant writer, and Jody Thompson, associate superintendent of elementary education.
More than 35 proposals were reviewed through the competitive grant process and 20 were awarded grants. Grand Forks Public Schools received the largest grant.
Larson Named Coca-Cola Scholarship Semifinalist
Camden Larson, a senior at Red River High School, has been named a 2021 Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist.
Over 1,600 students were selected as semifinalists from 99,403 applicants from across the country.
Other North Dakota semifinalists include Emily Gao (Ronald Davis High School, Fargo), Karlee Sailer (Beulah High School, Golden Valley), Hailey Thorlakson (Langdon Area High School), and Kelly Zimmerman (Napoleon High School).
Semifinalists will now submit applications to be reviewed by the program reading committee. After this review, 250 will advance as regional finalists, with 150 becoming Coca-Cola Scholars and receiving a $20,000 college scholarship.
There are over 6,300 Coca-Cola Scholarship alumni who are leading positive change in their communities and around the world.
Twelve Students Named District Nominees for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Twelve Grand Forks Public Schools seniors have been named district nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program.
Baylor Anttila (Grand Forks Central High School), Alexandra Anderson (Red River High School), Derek Chaves (Red River High School), Broden Diederich (Red River High School), Dennis Du (Grand Forks Central High School), Ella Fosse (Red River High School), Haley Gereau (Grand Forks Central High School), Anton Golovko (Grand Forks Central High School), Jacob Hanson (Grand Forks Central High School), Nabeel Hossain (Red River High School), Jakob Stevenson (Grand Forks Central High School), and Theodore Tchomakhidze (Red River High School) have been submitted to the North Dakota Department of CTE for consideration of the award.
“These students possess the outstanding talents, leadership skills, and character traits that make each of them an excellent representative for the Grand Forks Public Schools and our district’s CTE programs” states Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology at Grand Forks Public Schools.
Each of the students has completed a CTE coordinated plan of study or career pathway, have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and 3.25 grade point average in their CTE coordinated plan of study or career pathway, and have demonstrated technical competence, employability, ingenuity, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
The state department will review all applications before selecting up to five state applicants to advance to the Commission on Presidential Scholars. The applicants will be reviewed by a committee of qualified individuals experienced in career and technical education. The committee will choose 60 applicants to be named as semifinalists. The 60 CTE semifinalist applications will then be reviewed by the Commission on Presidential Scholars. All 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, D.C.
North Dakota Behavioral Health Awards Grand Forks Public Schools with Grant
The North Dakota Department of Human Services – Behavioral Health Division has awarded Grand Forks Public Schools with a $135,304.38 grant.
This grant will support a number of social-emotional intervention and prevention programs that support the school system’s strategic plan. Programming includes bibliotherapy, Sources of Strength, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), Bounce Back intervention services, Calm Classroom, Panorama Education's Social-Emotional Learning platform, and staff professional development.
“We are thankful to the North Dakota Department of Behavioral Health for awarding this grant funding to the Grand Forks Public Schools,” said Geoff Gaukler, mental health coordinator. “These programs will help our educators provide additional support for our students and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our students, especially during these challenging times.”
Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic approach that utilizes books and literature, typically alongside traditional therapy, to support mental health.
Sources of Strength is a best practice youth suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse.
CBITS is a skills-based, child group intervention that focuses on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to multiple forms of trauma.
Bounce Back is a school-based group intervention for elementary-aged students exposed to stressful and traumatic events.
Calm Classroom utilizes trauma-informed mindfulness techniques in order to support mental and emotional well-being in schools.
Panorama Education helps educators and school leaders measure and understand students' social-emotional learning skills. It also provides school-based mental health professionals with a comprehensive social-emotional assessment of students' needs.
The grant application was written by Gaukler and Taunya Schleicher, grant writer.
Grand Forks Public Schools Receives $10,000 Donation from TEARS
Grand Forks Public Schools, through the Grand Forks Foundation for Education, has received a $10,000 donation from TEARS (Together we Educate About the Realities of Suicide) to help financially support the Sources of Strength Program.
Sources of Strength is a best practice youth suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. Money from the donation will be used by lead adult advisors to purchase materials for the program at their school.
The Sources of Strength program is currently established in each of the middle and high schools. This year, the program has been added to all elementary schools for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.
TEARS was established to support individuals and families who have lost a loved one to suicide and to provide education in hopes of preventing suicide in our community and region.
Geoff Gaukler, mental health coordinator at Grand Forks Public Schools, worked with Moriah Opp, TEARS coordinator, to secure the donation.
"On behalf of Grand Forks Public Schools, I would like to thank Altru TEARS for their generous donation,” said Gaukler. “This will provide support for our peer leaders and adult advisors who are working to spread messages of hope, help, and strength throughout our schools, especially during these challenging times.”
Nominations Now Accepted - Employees of the 2nd Quarter
Nominations are now open for the Certified and Classified Employees of the 2nd Quarter for the 2020-2021 school year.
The purpose of the program is to recognize excellence as accomplished by certified and classified employees of Grand Forks Public Schools. To be considered, the employee must be a valuable asset to the Grand Forks Public Schools community through their job duties, leadership in their school/department/program, membership in a professional organization, etc. Additionally, the employee must be involved in the community in which they live, through volunteer work, civic responsibilities, etc.
Nominations are being accepted now through January 4th, 2021.
For more information, including links to the online nomination forms, please visit https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8946.
Thank you, Scheels Grand Forks
Thank you to Scheels Grand Forks for their continued support of Grand Forks Public Schools and the Grand Forks Foundation for Education through their annual “Scheels Day of Giving!” This generous donation will have an immediate impact on our students and schools (photo courtesy Emilia Hodgson).
Angels at Kelly
Check out the overflowing Angel Tree at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School. Thank you to everyone who helps to make the holidays brighter for our students (photo courtesy J Nelson Kelly Elementary School).
Knights in Shining Armor
This December, Grand Forks Central students, employees, and community members helped fill 150+ gifts for students! Thanks to all involved especially Dennis Du, Carter Swanson, Lauren Hillman, Maddison Myrold, Emma Jackson, Evan Whalen, Hanna Curran, Hanson Du, and Alexis Kraemer for heading up the project (photo courtesy Grand Forks Central Activities).
Examples of Excellence
Grand Forks Public Schools has been awarded a competitive grant from the Russell & Helen Sand Public High School Education Fund. The grant will be used to purchase a color printer plotter for graphic arts classes at Grand Forks Central High School. The printer is designed to print vector graphics by moving a pen mechanically to draw continuous lines. The Russell & Helen Sand Public High School Education Fund was created at the FM Area Foundation by Helen Sand to support public high schools located in North Dakota for the benefit of home economics and trade and industrial cooperative education departments. The fund was established in 2013.
The Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Inc. awarded $1,300 this year to help fund a staff development project in Grand Forks Public Schools using the Bjertness Staff Development Endowment. Elisa Diederich and the School-Wide Enrichment Program (SWEP) has been awarded $1,300 for Empowering Equity in Gifted Education Virtual Conference. In 2004, the Bjertness Staff Development Endowment was established in honor and memory of Echo Bjertness and Ben Bjertness. Echo and Ben were both long-time educators whose wish was to assist teachers in Grand Forks Public Schools in their growth as educators. The fund continues to grow thanks to monthly gifts from the Bjertness Estate (until June 2020). The income from the endowed fund shall be used to finance one or more annual grants to educators in Grand Forks Public Schools for the purpose of developing or improving their teaching skills.
Grand Forks Public Schools will be partnering with Goshen Education Consulting to provide military-connected students with a one-week STEMKamp experience for three summers. The STEMKamp will run from summer 2021 through summer 2023. The funding is part of a Department of Defense National Defense Education program and will provide the school system with $230,000 over the three summers to provide a one-week STEMKamp for military-connected students in 3rd through 8th grade. The purpose is to help spark students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
A job well-done to Red River High School! While the school wasn't able to hold it's annual Dodging for Jammies event, it didn't stop the Roughriders from contributing to the 10th Annual Community Pajama Drive. Students and staff held the schools' first-ever Pajama “Drive” Thru earlier this week, collecting nearly 300 pairs of pajamas and over $600, which will be used to purchase more pajamas. Check out the photos below, courtesy Red River Activities.
Job Openings
Certified
Support Staff
EL Paraprofessional - Century Elementary School
Float Para - Head Start
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
Intervention Title I Paraprofessional - Lake Agassiz Elementary
Athletics
- Assistant Softball Coach - Grand Forks Central High School
Upcoming Events
- January 4 - School Resumes
- January 11 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
- January 13 - Early Release (middle and high schools - 1 p.m.; elementary schools - 1:30 p.m.)
- January 15 - End of 2nd Quarter (middle and high schools)
- January 18 - No School K-12 (professional development); MSEC closes at 4 p.m.
- January 19 - Grand Forks Air Force Base Meeting (12 p.m.)
- January 25 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
- January 27 - Early Release (middle and high schools - 1 p.m.; elementary schools - 1:30 p.m.)