Announcements

Staff of the Year Program Overview

  • Nominees for a Staff of the Year Award are nominated by colleagues, students, parents, and/or community members through a letter of support highlighting the nominee’s commitment to education, professional development, and dedication to the West Fargo community. Each nominee’s supervisor is then asked to submit an evaluation indicating their support, and wishes, for the nominee to be selected as the award’s recipient. The program’s selection committee, comprised of community leaders, School Board members, past award recipients, retired and current administrators, selects one nominee to receive the Professional/Licensed Staff of the Year Award, one nominee to receive the Classified Staff of the Year Award, and one nominee to receive the Administrative Staff of the Year Award.

    The nomination process is open to the entire community, allowing parents, students, alumni, or any stakeholder to nominate an employee for a Staff of the Year Award.

    To be considered for this award, an individual must be a valuable asset to the West Fargo Public Schools community, but also to the West Fargo community as a whole. We ask that those who are nominated have the drive to continue growing in their professional life and be engaged in the broader community of West Fargo through volunteer work, civic responsibilities, or other leadership opportunities. All nominees must be employed with the district for a minimum of 2 ½ years at the time of nomination.

    When applicable, the Public Relations Department submits the award recipients for consideration in their respective state or national award category. Prior to final submission of this material, the Public Relations Department works with the recipient to ensure submission approval and completion.

    CLASSIFIED STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD

    Staff with the following titles may be nominated for the Classified Staff of the Year Award: food service worker, custodian, paraprofessional (office, classroom, transportation, special education, etc.), bus driver, pool manager, cook manager, executive assistant, administrative assistant, food service coordinator, food service operations supervisor, central maintenance worker, assistant mechanic, transportation route supervisor, technology support assistant, interpreter, building engineer, mechanic, transportation operations supervisor, facilities supervisor, accounting technician, English learner liaison, human resources specialist, public relations specialist, human resources generalist, payroll specialist, purchasing specialist, technology support technician, custodial services manager, theater technician, electrician, grounds services & athletic fields coordinator, payroll supervisor, webmaster, social worker, data analyst, systems analyst, database specialist, school nurse, accountant, human resources manager, network engineer, technical support services coordinator, certified occupational therapy assistant, behavior technician, and lead behavior technicians.

    PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD

    Staff with the following titles may be nominated for the Professional/Licensed Staff of the Year Award: dean of students, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, instructional coach, library media specialist, psychologist, counselor, teacher (all grades, all subjects).

    ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OF THE YEAR AWARD

    Staff with the following titles may be nominated for the Administrative Staff of the Year Award: high school principal; middle school principal; elementary principal; high school assistant principal; middle school assistant principal; elementary school assistant principal; business manager; director of special education; assistant director of special education; director of transportation; director of food service; director of health, safety, and public relations; director of accounting; director of curriculum and instruction; director of buildings and grounds; director of career and technical education; director of human resources; director of technology; special programs principal; activities director; aquatics director; special education coordinator; educational equity coordinator; curriculum coordinator; technology integration specialist; behavior specialist; theater technology specialist; elementary assistant superintendent; secondary assistant superintendent; and director of behavior health and wellness.

Selection Rubrics

Staff of the Year: Classified Recipients

Year Recipient Title Location
2016 - 2017 Frances Lindseth Special Education Paraprofessional Sheyenne High School
2017 - 2018 Tonya Vetter Administrative Assistant to the Activities Department West Fargo High School
2018 - 2019 Shannon Jantzi Administrative Assistant to the Counseling Office West Fargo High School
2019 - 2020 Lynda Krueger Paraprofessional Eastwood Elementary School
2020 - 2021 Carolie Farkas Administrative Assistant Harwood Elementary School
2021 - 2022 Lisa Vasichek Lead School Nurse West Fargo Public Schools
2022 - 2023 Suzanne McTiver Special Education Paraprofessional West Fargo High School

Staff of the Year: Professional/Licensed Recipients

Year Recipient Content Area Location
2016 - 2017 Nanci Dauwen Math Sheyenne High School
2017 - 2018 Sandra Evenson Science Cheney Middle School
2018 - 2019 Nicole Peterson Physical Education & Health West Fargo High School
2019 - 2020 Kristina Lindemann Reading Legacy Elementary School
2020 - 2021 Bethany Karnik Language Arts Sheyenne High School
2021 - 2022 Jessica Camacho Reading Deer Creek Elementary School
2022 - 2023 Amy Braddock Special Education Harwood Elementary School

Staff of the Year: Administrative Recipients

Year Recipient Title Location
2022 - 2023 Rachel Bachmeier Assistant Principal West Fargo High School

Teacher of the Year

  • Until the 2016-17 award, the program was previously referred to as the West Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year. The program recognized teachers for their exceptional work and dedication to the district. The inaugural year for West Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year was 1979-80. No recipients were selected for 1984-86; but since 1986-87, one teacher has been selected every year for the award after being nominated by a district colleague. Previous West Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year recipients include:

Year Recipient Content Area School
2015-2016 Heath Rydell Physical Education South Elementary School
2014-2015 Randy Holzkamm Math West Fargo High School
2013-2014 Aaron Knodel Language Arts West Fargo High School
2012-2013 Andrea Noonan Language Arts Cheney Middle School
2011-2012 Sue Jordahl Music Sheyenne 9th Grade Center
2010-2011 Jean Melicher First Grade Harwood Elementary School
2009-2010 Judith Riley ELL South Elementary School
2008-2009 Drue Haarsager Social Studies Cheney Middle School
2007-2008 Susan Morken Music Cheney Middle School
2006-2007 Karen Paulson First Grade Westside Elementary School

North Dakota Teacher of the Year

  •  There have also been West Fargo Public School Teachers who have won the North Dakota State Teacher of the Year Award. Those district recipients include:

Year Recipient Content Area School
2017 Nanci Dauwen Math Sheyenne High school
2014 Aaron Knodel Language Arts West Fargo High School
2013 Andrea Noonan Language Arts Cheney Middle School
2008 Verna Rasmussen First Grade Westside Elementary School
1998 Vickie Boutiette Reading District
1996 Marcia Kenyon First Grade Eastwood Elementary School
Last Modified on December 27, 2022