Star of Innovation Award

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?

  • For schools winning the GOLD STAR award, a representative from MASSP will arrange to appear at either a school gathering or a school board meeting to honor your accomplishment.
  • 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 2022-2023 Star of Innovation Award Winners

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

Horace-Mann-Vert-LogoMASSP also thanks Horace Mann for their partnership and promotion of the Star of Innovation Award.

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