This award is sponsored by Horace Mann and is designed to recognize MASSP member schools statewide for the development and support of an exemplary and innovative education program in their school based upon the following criteria:
- Applicant must be a member of MASSP
- The degree to which the program demonstrates a positive impact on education and the advocacy of children
- Clear principal leadership in the development and/or implementation of this innovative program
- Creativity and imagination while bringing about positive school change
- How easily this program can be replicated at other schools
So, what do we win?
- MASSP will provide a $250 award to GOLD STAR winning schools to be used at the principal’s discretion with his/her staff.
- Honorees will be recognized at our Summer Conference.
- Award winning programs will be highlighted.
What is the deadline?
All applications must be turned in directly to the MASSP office by 4:00 PM on March 1.
Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals
2 Pine Tree Drive, Suite 380
Arden Hills, MN 55112
What is the nomination process?
School principals may nominate their own school or a neighboring school. A panel of acting principals will decide this year’s winners.
How do I get started?
Click here for a Star of Innovation application.
Following are the 2023-2024 Star of Innovation Award Winners
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Denfeld High School
Tom Tusken, Principal & Heather Jarvis, SEBMTSS Coordinator
Attendance Recovery
Kimball Area High School
Nancy Bonnifield, Principal
6:10 Connect
Oak Grove Middle School
Anne Graner, Principal & John Polhill, Assistant Principal
Husky Help Desk
Perham High School
Ehren Zimmerman, Principal
Yellowjacket Certification – Diploma Plus 1 Program
South View Middle School
Patricia Pettis, Principal
School Wide Multiage Advisory Program
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Albert Lea High School
Chris Dibble, Principal, Sean Gaston & Kristi Kenis, Assistant Principals
Operation “Be On Time”
Cambridge-Isanti High School
Elizabeth Young, Assistant Principal
Character Crew
Cambridge-Isanti High School
Elizabeth Young, Assistant Principal
Credit Completion
Central Middle School
Jill Walter, Principal & CMS Wave Staff
WAVE Time
Fairmont Jr./Sr. High School
Chad Brusky, Principal
H-VAC Progression on Site
Hibbing High School
Chad Snider, Assistant Principal
Hidden in Plain Sight
Montevideo High School
Chris Weber, Principal
Montevideo Medical Academy – Foundations of Medical Careers Class
Red Rock Central High School
Greg Ewing, Principal
Flying Sky High with Drones
Redwood Valley High School
Rick Jorgenson, Principal
Law Enforcement Program
Royalton Middle/High School
Joel Swenson, Principal
Royalton Life Skills Lab
Sauk Centre Secondary
Sheila Flatau, Principal
Welding Careers in the Community
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Austin Online Academy
Jessica Cabeen, Principal & Matt Schmit, Principal
Austin Online Academy
LeRoy-Ostrander School
Aaron Hungerholt, Principal
Student Service Center
Monticello Middle School
Jeff Scherber, Principal
STEM Program
Mora High School
Jeremy Schultz, Interventionist
Mustang Volunteers
Oak Grove Middle School
Anne Graner, Principal & John Polhill, Assistant Principal
The Restorative Room
MASSP also thanks Horace Mann for their partnership and promotion of the Star of Innovation Award.
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Cloquet High School
Steve Battaglia, Principal
Commercial Driver’s License Program
Denfeld High School
Tom Tusken, Principal & Heather Jarvis, MTSS Coordinator
Student Support Desk
Duluth East High School
Danette Seboe, Principal
POV- Building Student Leaders
Hibbing High School
Chad Snider, Assistant Principal
QR Code Hall Pass System
Pillager Middle School
Wade Mortenson, Principal
Middle School Mentorship Program
Princeton Middle School
Erin Frank, Assistant Principal
Tiger Recovery
Proctor High School
Tim Rohweder, Principal
Boxcar Thrift Shop
Wayzata High School
Tyler Shepard, Associate Principal
Wayzata Café Work Experience Program
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Lakeville North High School/Rosemount High School
Kimberly Budde, Principal & Tim Conboy, Assistant Principal
Summer Scholars: A Partnership with DCTC
Litchfield Middle/High School
Chelsea Brown, Principal & Jason Michels, Principal
Focus
Murray County Central High School
Jacob Scandrett, Principal
Lyon and Murray County CEO Program
Princeton High School
Barbara Muckenhirn, Principal
Officiating, Sport and Coaching Class
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
Erick Norby, Principal & Mark Jacobs, SOAR 180° Coordinator
SOAR 180°
Robbinsdale Cooper High School
Dr. Frank Herman, Principal
Cooper Student Summit
The FAIR School for the Arts
Mary Pat Cumming, Principal
Love Your Natural Self
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Battle Lake Public School
Ryan Severson, Principal
BattlersCONNECT
Blaine High School
Steve Drewlo, Assistant Principal
Behavior Intervention-Reroute
Lake of the Woods School
Mary Merchant, Principal
Bears Buzz
Montevideo High School
Chris Weber, Principal
Montevideo High School Career Partnerships
New Prague Middle School
Rick Bell, Assistant Principal
G.L.U.E. Crew
Osseo Senior High School
Sara Vernig, Principal, Amber Hegland, Assistant Principal, Beth Vos & Matt Leisen
Osseo Credit Recovery Opportunities
Princeton High School
Barbara Muckenhirn, Principal, Emorie Colby & Darin Laabs, Assistant Principals
Reunification Plan
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Cedar Mountain Middle/High School
Tammy Yackley, Principal
Afterschool Clubs & Activities and Student Support Services
Denfeld High School
Thomas Tusken, Principal & Heather Jarvis, MTSS Coordinator
Hunter License
Pillager High School
Jason Savage, Principal & North Pines Mental Health Services
S.T.E.P.S. North
Win-E-Mac High School
Kevin McKeever, Principal
Media and Production
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Big Lake High School
Angie Charboneau-Folch, Assistant Principal
BLHS Virtual Social Work Office
Breckenridge High School
Craig Peterson, Principal
Breckenridge Profile of a Graduate
Osseo Area Learning Center
Kristin Hauge, Principal & Department Leads
Student Engagement Inventory/MTSS
South St. Paul High School
Chuck Ochocki, Principal
Packer Plus: “What I Need” Wednesday
Redwood Valley High School
Rick Jorgenson, Principal
Cardinal Certification Program
Redwood Valley Middle School
Bobby Elwell, Principal
WIN Time
Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High School
Frank Herman, Principal
Catch-Up and Relish
Tri-City United High School
Alan Fitterer, Principal
No Fly List
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
279 Online
Kristin Hauge, Principal & Assistant Principals-Ryan Bisson, Ben Karls & Michelle Munkholm,
Scholar Centered Schedule
Big Lake High School
Bob Dockendorf, Principal
BLHS Sandbox
Prairie Wind Middle School
Scott Bjerke, Principal and Andy Paulson, Industrial Technology
New STEM Classes
Redwood Valley High School
Rick Jorgenson, Principal
Intro to Medical Careers
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Cedar Mountain Middle/High School
Tammy Yackley, Principal
Afterschool Clubs & Activities and Student Support Services
Denfeld High School
Thomas Tusken, Principal & Heather Jarvis, MTSS Coordinator
Hunter License
Pillager High School
Jason Savage, Principal & North Pines Mental Health Services
S.T.E.P.S. North
Win-E-Mac High School
Kevin McKeever, Principal
Media and Production
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Big Lake High School
Angela Charboneau-Folch, Assistant Principal
Big Lake High School Diversion Program
Cottage Grove Middle School
Timothy Hofmann, Assistant Principal
Advisory SEL Curriculum Program
Faribault High School
Shawn Peck, Assistant Principal
R.I.S.E. (Realizing Individual Student Excellence)
Park Rapids Century Middle School
Shawn Andress, Principal
Panther Time
Irondale High School
Carol Kampa, Principal & Michelle Christenson, Associate Principal
School-Based Wrap-Around Support System (WASS)
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Chisago Lakes High School
Dave Ertl, Principal & Carrie Hoffman, Associate Principal
Student Engagement Response Protocol and Tool
Cloquet High School
Steve Battaglia, Principal & Tim Prosen, Assistant Principal
Electrical Training Alliance Interim Credentials Program
Jedlicka Middle School
Joseph Krasselt, Principal
JMS Railstrong Awards
Ortonville High School
Bill Wietman, Principal
Character Strong SEL Curriculum
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Burnsville High School
Donald Leake, POSA
Wall-to-Wall College and Career Pathways
Fisher High School
Catherine Steinmetz, Principal
Ag Focused Career Tech Education (AFCTE)
Grand Rapids High School
Matthew Dass, Principal
Connect Ed & Learning Recovery & Targeted Response
Hutchinson High School
Robert Danneker, Principal
Sports Officiating A/B/C
Oak Grove Middle School
Brian Ingemann, Principal & Anne Graner, Assistant Principal
Student Support Response & Husky Response Team (“Donut Crew”)
Southwest Middle School
Chris Dibble, Principal
Sticks & Stones School Wide Book Project
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Big Lake High School
Angela Charboneau-Folch, Assistant Principal
Big Lake High School Diversion Program
Cottage Grove Middle School
Timothy Hofmann, Assistant Principal
Advisory SEL Curriculum Program
Faribault High School
Shawn Peck, Assistant Principal
R.I.S.E. (Realizing Individual Student Excellence)
Park Rapids Century Middle School
Shawn Andress, Principal
Panther Time
Irondale High School
Carol Kampa, Principal & Michelle Christenson, Associate Principal
School-Based Wrap-Around Support System (WASS)
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Chisago Lakes High School
Dave Ertl, Principal & Carrie Hoffman, Associate Principal
Student Engagement Response Protocol and Tool
Cloquet High School
Steve Battaglia, Principal & Tim Prosen, Assistant Principal
Electrical Training Alliance Interim Credentials Program
Jedlicka Middle School
Joseph Krasselt, Principal
JMS Railstrong Awards
Ortonville High School
Bill Wietman, Principal
Character Strong SEL Curriculum
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Bemidji High School
Dr. Jason Stanoch, Principal
Special Olympics Unified School Program
Moose Lake High School
Billie Jo Steen, Principal
Schoolwide Restorative Practices
Onamia High School
JJ Vold, Principal
Panther Days
St. James Middle/Senior High School
Karla Beck, Principal
10th Grade Chefs
St. Michael-Albertville High School
Bob Driver, Principal
Freshmen Connections
Redwood Valley High School
Rick Jorgenson, Principal
CAST
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Century Middle School
Jason Bakke, Principal
STRONG
Chatfield High School
Randy Paulson, Principal
Core Team Scheduling
Chisago Lakes Middle School
Jim Gillach, Assistant Principal
Restorative Circles
Faribault High School
Joe Sage, Assistant Principal
The Nest
Franklin Middle School
Tony Greene, Assistant Principal
Student Services Team
Herman-Norcross High School
Rick Bleichner, Principal
Little Kids Rock
Lakeville South High School
Dr. Dana Kelly, Assistant Principal
STEM Academy
Longfellow Alternative High School
Dr. Padmini Udupa, Principal
Step Up Summer Internship Program
Lyle High School
Jamie Goebel, Principal
Student Advisory Program
Murray County Central High School
Jacob Scandrett, Principal
Therapy Dog Program
Parkers Prairie Secondary
Carey Johnson, Principal
Mental Health Support Program
Pequot Lakes High School
Aaron Nelson, Principal
ReSET
Perham High School
Ehren Zimmerman, Principal
Yellowjacket Peer Tutoring
Redwood Valley High School
Rick Jorgenson, Principal
Career Mentorship
Waseca Jr/Sr High School
Jeanette Swanson, Principal
Bluejay Connect
West Central Area Secondary
Susan Knutson, Principal
Health Field Sciences
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Hayfield High School
Grant Klennert, Principal
CNA Program
Isle High School
Jeremy Schultz, Principal
Teachers Focus in Classroom
John F. Kennedy High School
Carol Kampa, Principal
Career Pathway Advisory Model
Nashwauk-Keewatin High School
Ranae Seykora, Principal
Financial Education
Simley High School
Heidi Klukas, Assistant Principal
College Success Skills Concurrent Enrollment Course
Southwest Middle School
Chris Dibble, Principal
Top 20
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Mound Westonka High School
Keith Randklev, Principal
Westonka Technology Internship
North High School
Greg Nelson, Principal
Polar Academy
Robbinsdale Middle School
George Nolan, Principal
CARE and Robin Pride Program
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Bemidji High School
Brian Stefanich, Principal
Lumberjack Breakfast to Go
Chanhassen High School
Tim Dorway, Principal
Balance Perspective Growth
Dakota Meadows Middle School
Carmen Strahan, Principal
Transition Camp
Jordan High School
Barb McNulty, Principal
Grade Level Intervention Process
John F. Kennedy High School
Andy Beaton, Principal
Lunch Lab
Mounds View High School
Jeff Ridlehoover, Principal
Cyber Squad
New Prague High School
Lonnie Seifert, Principal
Health Career Exploration Class
New Prague Middle School
Brad Gregor, Principal
Proud Jr.
Princeton Middle School
Daniel Voce, Principal
Student Management: Tiered Interventions & Effective Use of Data
Rockford Middle School
Amy Denneson, Principal
Exploratory Class
Rogers High School
Roman Pierskalla, Principal
Academic Intervention
Southwest Middle School
Steve Kovach, Principal
TigerPlus Intervention Period
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Adrian Middle/High School
Tim Christensen, Principal
Bullying Awareness/Prevention
Faribault Middle School
Michael Meihak, Principal
RTI Reading
Tech Electives: Digital Literacy & Photography
Fosston High School
Patti Johnson, Principal
Character and Career Classes
Hibbing High School
Michael Finco, Principal
Anatomy/Physiology with CNA
Litchfield Middle School
Beckie Simenson, Principal
STEM Lab and 1:1 Macbook Technology Integration
Perham High School
Ehren Zimmerman, Principal
Functional Math
ROCORI High School
Mark Jensen, Principal
Phoenix Program
Rothsay High School
Staci Allmaras, Principal
Active Classrooms
Tartan High School
Adam Ehrmantraut, Principal
Student Credit Union and Financial Literacy
Tracy Area High School
Kathy Vondracek, Principal
Community Service Day
Underwood High School
John Hamann, Principal
Rocket Time
Warren-Alvarado-Oslo High School
Wade Johnson, Principal
American Sign Language
Math Success
PEER Mentoring
PEER Tutoring
Responsibility Honor Role
GOLD STAR WINNERS
Bemidji High School
Brian Stefanich, Principal
Bemidji Career Academies
Hibbing High School
Michael Finco, Principal
The Room of Requirement
Lake Park Audubon High School
Mary Merchant, Principal
Collaborative Teaching STEAM/PBL
Proctor High School
Tim Rohweder, Principal
Rails TV
SILVER STAR WINNERS
Big Lake High School
Bob Dockendorf, Principal
REAL – Relevant Experience through Apprenticeship Learning
Chippewa Middle School
Rob Reetz, Principal
STEAM Program
Chisago Lakes Middle School
Jim Gillach, Associate Principal
Makerspace
North Branch Area High School
Coleman McDonough, Principal
BARR – Building Assets Reducing Risks
Robbinsdale Cooper High School
Frank Herman, Principal
Hawk Lunch and Learn
Southwest Middle School
Steve Kovach, Principal
ALC Tiger Program
BRONZE STAR WINNERS
Bertha-Hewitt High School
Darren Glynn, Principal
Homegrown
Coon Rapids High School
Annette Ziegler, Principal
ONE Team/KINDNESS Matters
Kennedy Community School
Laurie Putnam, Principal
CSB Collaborative
Longfellow Alternative High School
Padmini Udupa, Principal
Project-Based Learning and Social – Emotional Learning
Oak Grove Middle School
Brian Ingemann, Principal
PETS (Positive Emotional Therapeutic Support)
Onamia High School
JJ Vold, Principal
Alternative to Suspension Program (A2S)
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
David Dahl, Principal
9th Grade English Redesign
Thomas Jefferson High School
Jaysen Anderson, Principal
Mindfulness Program
Underwood High School
John Hamann, Principal
Character Building