Forty-nine Area Educators Receive Recognition

NJPA honors Region 5 educators for their commitment to excellence

STAPLES, Minn. (1 May 2017) -- National Joint Powers Alliance® Education Solutions recognizes the profound impact of educators and celebrated the work of 49 area educators from Region 5 schools on Monday night at its fourth annual Educators of Excellence Awards Banquet at Grand View Lodge.

Nominated by their respective schools for their commitment to excellence, these educators demonstrate best practices, leadership, and innovation in education, which leads to increased student success.

“NJPA is pleased to honor the hard work and dedication of educators throughout Region 5 schools,” said NJPA Manager of Education Solutions Kassidy Rice. “We are inspired by their stories and thankful for their commitment to their students, schools, and communities.”

NJPA honored Teachers of Excellence, plus celebrated three additional awards: Leader of Educational Excellence, Paraprofessional of Educational Excellence, and Team of Educational Excellence.

Leader of Educational Excellence
Stephen Jones, Superintendent of Little Falls Community Schools

Paraprofessional of Educational Excellence
Pam Hart, Pequot Lakes School District

Team of Educational Excellence
Pine River-Backus REACH Team - Gina Williams, Nicosia Danielowski, Tiffany Abrams, Ben Kinser, Jake Hradsky, Laure Marquardt, Tina Hanneken, Steffanie Bristow, and Jake Mongon

TEACHER	SCHOOL
Michael Bauck	Bertha-Hewitt School
Jackie Nornes	Crosby-Ironton High School
Kyle Bendson	Cuyuna Range Elementary School
Ronda Veit	Crosslake Community School
Becki Church	Freshwater White Pine Academy
Cindy Casillas	Lindbergh Elementary School
Kathy Dorn	Dr S.G. Knight Elementary
Kevin Hoskins	Little Falls Community Middle School
Reid Bellig	Little Falls Community High School
Roxann Ree	Lincoln Elementary School
Jessica Rosenow	Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
Elise Erickson	Menahga Middle School
Maria Ness	Menahga High School
Paula Pearson	Menahga Elementary School
Piper Bader-Lampi	Eagle View Elementary School
Sue Sergent	Pequot Lakes High School
Wade Hoppe	Pequot Lakes Middle School
Jessica Rocheleau	Pioneer Elementary School
Richard Teske	Pierz-Healy High School
Cortney Kroska	Pillager Middle School
Erin Anderson	Pillager High School
Wendy Hall	Pillager Elementary
Steffanie Bristow	Pine River-Backus High School
Tim Ramler	Pine River-Backus Elementary School
Marty Bratsch	Royalton High School
Melissa Hammer	Royalton Elementary School
Maureen Dragseth	Sebeka Elementary School
Chris Kappler	Staples-Motley Middle School
Chris Trout	Connections High School
Jennifer Pantzke	Staples-Motley Elementary School
Shawna Poncelet	Staples-Motley High School
Diane Schleicher	Swanville Elementary School
Wyn Pittman	Swanville Junior/Senior High School
Courtney Justin	Upsala Area Schools
Cami Oakes	Wadena-Deer Creek High School
Dan Savoie	Wadena-Deer Creek High School
Melanie Leger	Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School
Pat Richter	Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School

About NJPA

Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota’s nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 200 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.