Staff Spotlight: Celeste Hains

Celeste Hains

Madison Elementary School’s special education teacher Celeste Hains didn’t plan on being a teacher. In fact, she was a social worker who was working on her marriage and family therapy license. It was her son’s principal, Kate Butkowski, who approached her about substitute teaching for St. Cloud Area School District. Hains gave it a try, … Read more

Shining a Spotlight on Alternative Learning

Mike in front of his wall of MAAP STARS.

Walking into the classroom of Mike Myers-Schleif, social studies teacher at McKinley-ALC,  you’re greeted with a bright welcoming smile. His classroom is decorated with historical figures such as Nelson Mandela. However, two walls are decorated with photos of students. One wall consists of students that have graduated and have kept in touch with him throughout … Read more

More in Common Than You Think

Common Ground Students

Area students are coming together to discover that they have more in common than they think.  Students from Apollo, Tech, Sauk Rapids-Rice, ROCORI  and Foley high schools are meeting every month to break down prejudicial barriers and find their shared experiences. Dr. Eddah Mutua, a communication studies professor at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), created … Read more

Bridging Generations and Time: McKinley Students at the VA

McKinley students at the VA Center

Any good educator will tell you that service learning is an effective way to connect students to learning goals while engaging them in their surrounding community. And nearly all students who have participated in service learning will tell you that it is a meaningful experience that truly makes an impact. But few can boast a … Read more