West Fargo, ND – (May 23, 2022) – It is with great pleasure that Elementary Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rachael Agre and members of the elementary principal team announce the following individuals have accepted the position of Assistant Principal at one of the district’s elementary schools:

• Brooks Harbor Elementary Principal Mr. Manix Zepeda welcomes Mrs. Meghan Nelson
• Deer Creek Elementary Principal Dr. Chad Clark welcomes Mrs. Ericka Urness
• Legacy Elementary Principal Mr. Jason Markusen welcomes Dr. Erin Spies
• Osgood Elementary Principal Mrs. Kristi Toy welcomes Mr. Joshua Dahl

Meghan Nelson
Mrs. Nelson began her career in education in 2013 as a second grade teacher for Fargo Public Schools. She joined West Fargo Public Schools as a third grade teacher in 2018. In 2021, she accepted the position of dean of students at Westside Elementary School.

Mrs. Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary inclusive education from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and teacher leadership from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Ericka Urness
Mrs. Urness began her career in education in 2005 for the Poudre School District in Colorado. She held positions as a paraprofessional in alternative, special education, and EL settings before accepting a position as a physical education, health education, and adaptive physical education teacher in 2008. She moved to North Dakota in 2011 and served as the Director of Coaches for the West Fargo Soccer Club and as a preschool teacher for the Goddard School before joining West Fargo Public Schools in 2012. She began her career at WFPS as a PE and health teacher, transitioned to teaching adaptive PE in 2015, moved to Special Education in 2018, and has served as a dean of students for three elementary schools since 2019.

Mrs. Urness holds bachelor’s degrees in physical education and health education, her special education endorsement, and a master’s degree in educational leadership, all from NDSU.

Erin Spies
Dr. Spies began her career in education in 2006 as a speech and theatre teacher for the Sioux Falls School District. She came to West Fargo Public Schools in 2010, where she served as a counselor at both Sheyenne High School and Liberty Middle School before becoming an Assistant Principal at Liberty Middle School in 2015. She held that position until 2019, when she accepted her current position as Principal of Heritage Middle School.

Dr. Spies holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education communication studies from the University of Sioux Falls, a master’s degree in school counseling from the Adler Graduate School, and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Dakota.     

Joshua Dahl
Mr. Dahl began his career in education in 2005 as a music teacher for the school on the Grand Forks Air Force Base. In 2008, he moved to Lake Park-Audubon Elementary School to be their music teacher. From 2012 – 2019, he was a music teacher for Fargo Public Schools until agreeing to serve as a student performance strategist at Bennett Elementary in Fargo. He came to West Fargo Public Schools to be the dean of students at Osgood Elementary School for the 2021 – 2022 school year.

Mr. Dahl holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Concordia College, a master’s degree in education from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota, and his principal’s licensure through the educational leadership program at Minnesota State University Moorhead. 

Each Assistant Principal will assume their new position on July 1.

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