The Eagle River Elementary School 4th grade team of Gretchen Hall, Nicole Kremsreiter, and Nicole Musial are the Employees of the Month. The 4th grade team is a highly motivated Professional Learning Community dedicated to ensuring success for all students through rigor, relevance and relationships.
This team of educators spends many hours beyond their weekly team meeting time collaborating on academic and social emotional outcomes of their instruction. Their dedication and leadership on our district’s curriculum work sessions has given the tools necessary to function and a true Professional Learning Community. As a PLC, they determine what they promise each student will learn. They continually review formative assessment data to ensure their students are learning at the intended level of rigor. As a team, they make decisions on how to proceed with the students that did not meet that level of rigor, and how to enrich the learning for the students that did.
In most any visit to a 4th grade classroom, you will find students smiling and happy while actively engaged in learning. Their instructional content is taken directly from our district's promise standards. Many of the lessons are project based, allowing the students to be creative, learn how to work as a team, and help their classmates learn by sharing their findings. Each teacher on this team has established successful routines in their daily schedules. This provides the students with a level of comfort that allows the teachers to work with small groups of students while the rest of the class is learning independently or in smaller groups. This is an extremely successful teaching strategy with proven results.
Each of the 4th grade teachers have great relationships with the students that are built on mutual trust and respect. Their mindset is that ALL 4th graders are their students, not just the ones in their room. These relationships are fostered through not only the day-to-day interactions between staff and students, but in the many special activities this team provides to build a culture of community. Some of these activities include their overnight camping trip at Conserve School, publishing a classroom book, and many special days of celebration.
These relationships last beyond the year they have the students in their classroom. It is not uncommon to see students in higher grades visiting their former teachers because of the impact they had on them. For these reasons and many more, we are lucky and proud to have this dedicated team of professionals making a difference in the lives of our students at ERES. Congratulations to Gretchen, Nicole, and Nicole!
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Northland Pines School District Employee of the Month
The Northland Pines School Board has implemented an Employee of the Month recognition award to be presented randomly throughout the school year at the regular board meeting. Any person may nominate any employee for this award by writing a brief email explaining why the employee should receive the award. All nominations can be emailed for consideration to either David Weber, Board President, or to Scott Foster, District Administrator.
Recipients of the Employee of the Month awards:
- October 2019: Peter Aerts
- November 2019: Julie Aerts
- December 2019:
- January 2020:
- February 2020:
- March 2020:
- April 2020:
- May 2020:
2018-19 Employees of the Month
2017-18 Employees of the Month
2016-17 Employees of the Month
2015-16 Employees of the Month
2014-15 Employees of the Month
2013-14 Employees of the Month
2012-13 Employees of the Month
2011-12 Employees of the Month
2010-11 Employees of the Month
2009-10 Employees of the Month
The School Board and Administration implemented this award to publicly acknowledge and recognize exemplary work ethics among Northland Pines employees.
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AJ Zayia received the Early Career Educator Award
AJ Zayia received the Early Career Educator Award, which is presented to educators within the first three years of their careers. It is based on their positive effect on schools or communities, their innovation in designing learning experiences and their advocacy for students. Daniel Marien, Principal of Northland Pines Middle & High School, had these comments about AJ: "I 100% believe AJ is deserving of this award. He has been a wonderful addition to our PE Department. He has already created a good voice among the entire high school staff. He has added a tremendous amount to our adaptive PE classes not only in the high school but also in Eagle River Elementary School. AJ has been involved in some curriculum upgrades within our PE Department as well. AJ has also taken on the role of Head Football Coach for our school and in two years in this position we have recognized a huge increase in our participation rate in football while we are experiencing declining enrollment. Lastly AJ has gotten heavily involved in our ASPIRE program which is for at-risk students in grades 7-10. AJ is the main teacher of our 9th grade ASPIRE class and has been heavily involved in the planning of these classes. AJ has built very solid relationships with all of his students whether in his PE classes, his ASPIRE class or on the football field. We are very happy he is here at Northland Pines!"
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Christine Fuller Awarded 2 Scholarships for Graduate Level Seminars
Christine Fuller, fifth grade Northland Pines - Eagle River Elementary School social studies teacher, has received two scholarships to attend graduate level history seminars for educators this summer. Each organization’s highly-competitive selection process vetted a nationwide pool of applicants. In June, she’ll be one of twenty teachers traveling to Virginia for a week to study early presidents and their families with the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. In July, she and 25 other teachers will spend a week in Washington, D.C. at Ford’s Theater examining the monuments and memorials in our nation’s capital and learning how the Civil War and Reconstruction have been remembered throughout American history. If you’d like to learn more about finding site-based, partially/fully funded grad class opportunities for K-12 teachers of any discipline, Christine would be happy to help.
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Christina Stuber Presented with the Goethe Institut Scholarship
At the 51st annual Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages held in Columbus, Ohio March 12-14, Christina Stuber (Northland Pines World Language Teacher) was presented with the Goethe Institut Scholarship by Katja Fullard of the Goethe Institut in Chicago.
This scholarship, available to teachers of German in levels K-16, provides a one- or two-week professional development course at one of the 12 Goethe-Institutes in Germany. The scholarship includes the following:
- Tuition and course materials
- $500 honorarium to defray travel expenses (self-arranged)
- Housing
- Most meals
- Cultural program
- Public transportation at seminar location
- Medical, accident and liability insurance for the duration of the seminar and coverage for transport home in case of illness.
After completing an application process that required a personal statement, resume and at least one recommendation from an administrator or department chairperson, Ms. Stuber was selected from a pool of candidates across the CSCTFL region, comprised of the 14 states of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. She will spend 2 weeks this summer studying German with other educators in the city of Mannheim, Germany.
The annual Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages includes approximately 250 workshops and sessions presented by world language teachers at all levels of instruction. It is governed by a Board of Directors which is elected by the membership of the CSCTFL Advisory Council as outlined in its by-laws.
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Northland Pines School District Earns Spectrum Award for Merit in School Communications
The Northland Pines School District was recently honored by the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) with a Spectrum Award of Merit for its work in school communications. WSPRA presented the Spectrum Awards at its recent annual conference, Nov. 7-9, in Madison, Wis. The Northland Pines School District earned an Award of Merit for its recent website redesign. Ashley Auestad, Northland Pines Webmaster and Public Relations Coordinator, accepted the award.
Spectrum Awards recognize high-quality public relations efforts produced by or on behalf of Wisconsin school districts. This year, this statewide competition honored 42 school districts with awards. “Spectrum Award winners exemplify the very best communications work in school districts across the state,” said WSPRA President Christina Brey. “The winners demonstrate the value of engaging stakeholders in order to build community support for Wisconsin’s public schools.” WSPRA’s Spectrum Awards are judged by members of other school public relations associations throughout the United States, including from Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, and South Carolina. All entries were judged on a 30-point scale in six areas: goals and objectives, research and planning, execution and evaluation, results, language, and design.
The Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) is a professional association representing schools, school districts, educational associations, consulting agencies and organizations. The theme for the 2018 conference was “Building on the Best. Creating the best possible school communications for student success!” WSPRA is a state affiliate of the National School Public Relations Association. The mission of WSPRA is to expand the capacity of its members to provide effective communication management for the purpose of strengthening educational opportunities for all students.
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Members of Northland Pines School District Win Safety Room Challenge
MADISON – Theresa Berkelman, Mabel Ernst, Kelly Falcetta, Shelli Klessig and Charlene Kolehouse won the group prize in the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) Safety Room Challenge at the WASBO Custodial & Maintenance Conference at Wausau East High School, June 26.
In the Safety Room Challenge, teams or individuals were asked to tour several rooms, identify potential hazards and safety concerns, and explain how they should be remedied. Some possible answers included: open wiring, missing outlet cover, blocked fire alarm, missing outlet strips and several other hazards.
The score was based on the number of accurate answers provided in just two and a half minutes. The Northland Pines School District team was one of two with the most points of 18 correct answers and one extra credit point out of 25 possible.
Congratulations to Kelly Falcetta, Charlene Kolehouse, Shelli Klessig, Mabel Ernst and Theresa Berkelman!
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Northland Pines School District and The Vilas County Economic Development Corporation win 2017 Standing Up for Rural School, Libraries and Communities Award
The Vilas County Economic Development Corporation: Business Entrepreneurship, Broadband Expansion, and Fab Lab award celebrates the partnership between the Northland Pines School District and the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation, which has brought expanded internet capabilities and business learning opportunities for district students and a Fab Lab that serves students, staff members, and the community. The economic development corporation has created five business incubators in Vilas County, which give students first-hand access to how businesses are established, grown, and mature into successful enterprises. Students can meetwith business owners and witness entrepreneurship in a rural community. The high school DECA team benefits from the economic development corporation’s training which propelled them to compete at the national level. The group’s efforts at broadband expansion in Vilas County helps rural students with their career goals by providing high speed internet access in schools, homes, and the entire community. The corporation worked with the district in obtaining two consecutive Fab Lab grants. They have donated all of the matching funds for the Fab Lab grants and have committed to continuing to do so for the three-year grant cycle.
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State Superintendent Tony Evers commended John Hayes, Northland Pines High School Math Teacher, who recently received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. “Thank you for your work with our students to inspire a love of science and mathematics,” he said, “The Presidential Teaching Award is considered the nation’s highest honor, recognizing outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. Thank you for your work with our students to inspire a love of science and mathematics.”
John Hayes was among 213 recipients of the Presidential Teaching Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity Schools. A panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators selected Presidential Teaching Award recipients from state-level nominees.
Additional information is available on the Department of Public Instruction newsroom website.
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Scott Foster Receives 2014-15 Wisconsin Rural Administrator of the Year Award
Scott Foster, Principal of Land O' Lakes Elementary School, SOAR Charter School and the Northland Pines School District's Technology Director, has been selected as the co-recipient of the 2014-15 Wisconsin Rural Administrator of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.
This award was presented to Scott at the closing luncheon of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance fall conference held at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on Thursday, November 13, 2014.
Mike Richie stated, "Scott is well deserving of this award as we all know how many hats he has worn as an administrator for NPSD. He puts in an enormous amount of time and our students and staff benefit as a result of Scott's dedication."
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Robin Indermuehle, science teacher at Northland Pines High School, developed Growing Your Own Food in the 21st Century as a project-based class to teach students how to garden and give them a new lifeskill. She partnered with Mary Ann Lambrecht, Vilas County Master Gardener volunteer, and Debbie Jircik, co-founder of the Seed to Seed Edible Garden Project, to expose the students to science-based gardening concepts. Started in the 2010-11 school year, Growing Your Own Food in the 21st Century now involves three garden sites: the school attached green house, four plots at the community garden, and the hoop house behind the community garden. During the winter months, students plant and tend seedlings in the hoop house and in the spring the young plants are sold to raise funds for the garden or are planted in the community garden plots. Students decide the types of plants, which include many types of greens, tomatoes, peas, green beans, and more. The harvest becomes in-class “Salad Day Fridays.” Students share their crops with the school food service, and a chef comes in and uses it in special featured recipes. During the summer months, produce is donated to the local food pantry.
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Northland Pines Custodial Staff wins the 2013 Service Award
The Northland Pines custodial and maintenance staff won the 2013 Service Award for their continued efforts in maintaining some of the best facilities in WADA District 2. If you were to come and tour our building it looks as clean and pristine as when it was opened in 2006. Our staff does a phenomenal job in the maintenance of the facility and outdoor complexes, but they are also excellent in the preparation and staging all of our many school sponsored and public events. Our building is more than a school; it’s a public facility for community use. The custodial and maintenance staff encounters a plethora of events in our field house, commons, auditorium, and athletic facilities that generates only praise. Our facilities are second to none in WADA District 2 and it's the efforts of this staff that keeps them this way.
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NPHS Math Teacher – John Hayes – Receives State Recognition
Northland Pines School District is honored that John Hayes, NP High School Math Teacher, has been named as a Wisconsin State Finalist for the 2013 Presidential Awards for Excellence for Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction selection committee. John was one of four finalist named by the state. Other mathematics finalists include Corey Andereasen of North High School in Sheboygan, Mary Walz of Sauk Prairie High School in Prairie du Sac, and Scott Hertting, a science finalist from Neehah High School in Appleton.
This state recognition will advance John, and the other finalists, to the national level where the National Science Foundation (NSF) convenes a selection committee to recommend up to two finalists in mathematics or science from each state. The Director of NSF will then submit the recommendations to the White House Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy for final selection. National awardees will be notified by the White House and will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to Washington D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, a $10,000 award from NSF, and an award certificate signed by the President of the United States.
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2013 Wisconsin Middle School Principal of the Year Award - Jackie Coghlan
On March 8, 2013, The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) announced Jackie Coghlan, Northland Pines Middle School Principal, as the "Middle School Principal of the Year". She has been selected to represent Wisconsin at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) annual conference in Washington, DC next February. Channel 12 Videocast of the announcement. DPI Press Release.
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Wisconsin Leadership Institute's 2012 Collaborative Leader of the Year - Dr. Richie
Two educators and a policy expert who helped organize an educational program focused on culture, commerce, and conservation for top-ranked Chinese high school students have been named 2012 Wisconsin Collaborative Leaders of the Year by a state leadership group.
The three selected by the Wisconsin Leadership Institute (WLI) are: Jeff Smoller, deputy operations manager at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Jack Palmer, liaison for the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University; and Dr. Mike Richie, Superintendent of Northland Pines School District in Eagle River.
The three helped conceive and manage a multi-week program, known as Rivers as Bridges, which brought two dozen of China’s most promising 15- and 16-year-old students to communities in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Along the way, the students learned about natural resources, while also focusing on values of leadership and collaboration. Press release
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WI Schools Public Relations Association (WSPRA) 2012 Lighthouse Award & Spectrum Award of Excellence - NPSD Promotional Video
The Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) awarded the Northland Pines School District (NPSD) with two prestigious awards at their annual conference on November 8, 2012. The school district’s promotional video was awarded with the highest Spectrum Award of Excellence and WSPRA also awarded their "Best of Show" 2012 Lighthouse Award to the NPSD promotional video. Press release
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Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance's 2012 School/Community Partner of the Year - CornerStone Custom Builders
Cornerstone Custom Builders, Inc. of Eagle River, Wisconsin was honored by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA), a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping address issues of rural school districts, at the annual Rural Schools Conference on November 15, 2012. Cornerstone received the Wisconsin Rural School/Community Partner of the Year Award for their significant contributions to the Northland Pines School District Building Trades Program. For the past four years, the company has supplied the materials for building a home and assisted Tim Lehman, Building Trades Instructor, with the construction. The students participate throughout the entire construction of the house from project design, obtaining permits, safety training, framing and finishing. Cornerstone is then responsible for marketing and selling the home alleviating the costs and burden from the school district. Many local material suppliers and subcontractors are also involved in the project making it truly a community effort. Press release
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National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) 2012 Superintendent of the Year Award - Dr. Mike Richie
Dr. Mike Richie, Northland Pines District Administrator, was officially named Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents’ (NASS) selection panel on August 22, 2012. Richie was also selected as one of three semi-finalists for the award in 2011. The Northland Pines School District held a Celebration Night on October 22, 2012 to acknowledge all of the wonderful things that have happened throughout the district during Dr. Richie's direction and to present the award to him. Press release
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Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction's 2012-13 School of Recognition Award - Land O'Lakes Elementary School
Dr. Mike Richie along with Shirley Erickson (5th grade teacher), Cynthia Spiess (3rd grade teacher), and Scott Foster (principal) accepted the School of Recognition Award from State Superintendent Tony Evers at an awards ceremony at the State Capitol in Madison on Oct. 2, 2012. Press Release
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Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction's 2012 Standing Up For Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities Award
Northland Pines High School Building Trades and CornerStone Custom Builders, Inc. Partnership received this award for the outstanding efforts made to keep the building trades program an exceptional program for high school students and the community. Mike Richie, District Administrator, & Glenn Schiffmann, President of CornerStone Custom Builders, Inc., accepted the Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin award from State Superintendent Tony Evers at a ceremony held in Madison on March 12, 2012.
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Wisconsin Special Olympics 2011 Organization of the Year Award
Special Olympics of Wisconsin presents 12 annual awards to individuals and organizations throughout the state that support its mission. Recently, Special Olympics Wisconsin announced 2011 award recipients. The Northland Pines School District was nominated and selected as the recipient of the Special Olympics Wisconsin Organization of the Year Award for Area #2. In addition, Jessica Chuckel, Agency Manager for Northern Access, was nominated and selected as the recipient of the Special Olympics Wisconsin Agency Manager of the Year for Area #2.
These awards exemplify individuals and organizations that support the mission of Special Olympics and, therefore, receive recognition for their commitment. On Saturday, September 24, 2011 Dr. Richie, District Administrator for the Northland Pines School District, and Jessica Chuckel received the awards at the Special Olympics Wisconsin Awards Ceremony at Plaza Hotel and Suites in Wausau during the Special Olympics Leadership Conference.
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Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction 2011 Standing Up For Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities Award
Mike Richie, District Administrator, & Nancy Ellis, Executive Director of the YMCA of the Northwoods Eagle River Branch, accept the Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin award from State Superintendent Tony Evers at a ceremony held in Madison on March 7, 2011. DPI Press Release
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Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction 2010-11 School of Recognition Award - Land O'Lakes Elementary School
Dr. Richie, Mrs. Lechleitner and Mrs. Saltenberger accept the School of Recognition award for Land O'Lakes Elementary School from State Superintendent Tony Evers at the awards ceremony in Madison on October 18, 2010. Press release.
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