Nick Wells, paraeducator at Lincoln Elementary School, had no thoughts of working in education. His career was retail management. However, his wife (a teacher) noticed how well he interacted with his customers – particularly kids – and suggested that he switch careers to education. It’s a decision he’s never once regretted. “I’ve always been a … Read more
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
Devon Bowker, special education science teacher at Roosevelt Education Center, aka @devthenatureguy, has a passion for wildlife, the outdoors and the environmental sciences. His style of combining nature and the outdoors with indoor experiments and technology brings a whole new engaging aspect to education. His enthusiasm for the outdoors started at a young age. “When … Read more
“Love Your Neighbor” is February’s theme for St. Cloud Area School District 742 staff, and no one represents that better than Jack Peterson, special education supervisor. Whether he is doing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) work, Peterson exudes what it means to love students just like they are family. … Read more
Some things are serendipitous. The same can be said for Grace Weitz, an instructional paraprofessional at North Junior High School, when she was looking for a new job. She’d already been in several industries, but none of them really spoke to her. On a whim, she decided to attend one of St. Cloud Area School District’s … Read more