November 2022
Every time Thanksgiving rolls around I, like many other Americans, feel the desire to reflect on what I am thankful for. Personally this year, I am thankful for my health, for my friends and family, and for the freedoms that this country affords. Professionally however, I could not be more thankful for anything than the faculty and staff who I work with at the school. From Olivia in the office to the teachers in their classrooms to Jane in the cafeteria, this school would absolutely not be the place it is without the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. We added a few new people to our team this year and so I would like to take this opportunity to highlight these individuals.
Though he isn’t necessarily a new staff member, Mr. Scott Roberts absolutely needs a mention here. Mr. Roberts donates his time and energy to teach elementary school PE three days a week simply out of the kindness of his heart. He claims we are doing him a favor by allowing him this opportunity but he’s obviously being modest. His commitment to this school is remarkable as I can think of no one who has volunteered more of their own time to working with these kids than Scott himself.
One person who sure is at least trying to give Scott a run for his money with volunteer hours though is our new Esports coach, Mr. Josh Curry. Coach Curry has over a decade of experience working with Esports teams and we are very lucky to have him donate his time and energy to helping get our Esports team off the ground. We are slated to compete in our first tournament after the new year so be on the lookout for those results!
The newest addition to our support staff team is Mrs. Shawn Larsen. Shawn fills in for Oliva and helps with office work so don’t be surprised if you see Shawn at the front desk or answering the phone. Shawn is a kind, caring individual who does a great job helping keep things afloat and organized. Her flexibility is a much needed addition to our dynamic team.
Another new addition to our staff is our new bus driver Ed Peterson. Ed joins us as an alumni of Grand Marais high school (class of 1988) and we’re so happy to have him back after decades of over-the-road trucking. Ed is dedicated to his job and always keeps student safety at the forefront of his mind. He also has excellent attention to detail, making sure the bus is in tip top shape. Although driving a school bus is a little bit different than driving a big rig, Ed has really been enjoying the change of pace. So too has Lou Bailey who has stayed on as our transportation director for the remainder of this school year. Ed sure does have big shoes to fill but those shoes are seeming to fit nicely.
Troy Morgan is our newest classroom aide in the lower elementary school classroom. Mr. Morgan came highly recommended by his teaching counterpart Mrs. Paul so it has been a smooth working transition. Troy will be the first to tell you that he’s always learning something new and that although challenging at times, he absolutely loves working with the kids. Half of the battle is finding that passion on a day-to-day basis and Mr. Morgan sure does have a knack for it (that, and coffee helps too). You want an honest review of Mr. Morgan’s performance so far this year? Ask your local K-3rd grader!
With the retirement of Gary McCormick last year opened a gaping hole in our maintenance department. Again, like Lou, filling those shoes was quite the task. Luckily for us, Dave Hyde was up to the challenge and slid right in for a smooth transition. Dave worked with Gary at the end of last year and then was on his own for the most part throughout the summer. The school year started and Dave finally had to fly solo. Dave has come soaring in to complete the countless tasks necessary of being the maintenance director in addition to his regular custodial duties. Dave and Ed are the dynamic duo at the end of the school day working as a team to really dial in the school.
Thank you everyone, from the bottom of my heart for your commitment to this school. These kids are so lucky to have such a wonderful faculty and staff to provide them transportation, instruction, nutrition, a clean environment, healthy lifestyles, emotional support, and so much more. You are all appreciated.
