Commentary; Posted: 11/10/04

ISD 831 has much to celebrate during American Education Week

Lynn Steenblock
Guest Columnist

There is a lot to celebrate in the Forest Lake Area Schools.

Miracles happen in classrooms across the district on a daily basis. When students learn to write, to multiply and divide, to play a musical instrument or to build a molecule we can all celebrate.

With help from our dedicated staff, parents, volunteers and business partners, our students are accomplishing amazing things.

In times of lean budgets, our amazing staff is being forced to do more with much less. Despite the obstacles, we believe our schools are as good as theyíve ever been.

Our dedicated staff is committed to reaching our students and they often go the extra mile to help children succeed. Our kids are exposed to music, arts, sporting activities, debate, speech, agriculture, technical training and much more.

Before and after school activities, combined with a strong curriculum during the school day, have helped our district to develop strong, well-rounded and highly skilled students. Our students are graduating at higher rates, taking more classes, achieving at higher levels and receiving a more diverse education than ever before.

Never before in history have the expectations been so high or the opportunities so vast. As a district, we are dedicated to providing the very best learning opportunities to our students.

We work hard to find and retain the very best staff we can. Our teachers are highly trained, with more than 57 percent holding a masters degree. Our cooks and our bus drivers are committed to maintaining the health and safety of each child. All of our support staff has the very best interest of the kids at heart.

American Education Week is a time to celebrate what is right about public education.

Please take a moment this week to thank our staff, parents, volunteers and business partners for all they do to help our students learn and grow. We have a lot to be proud of in Forest Lake Area Schools! Let's celebrate!

Writer Lynn Steenblock is superintendent of schools in ISD 831.

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