May 1st is National Principal Appreciation Day and to commemorate this special occasion, I thank all of our local principals! You play an important role in our children’s school experiences, supporting students, teachers, and families—and I thank you for your dedication.
According to Educators Writers Association, the first principals arose in the early 19th century in urban schools. This was at a time when one-room schoolhouses expanded due to increased student demand. The evolution of the principal role is as follows: single teacher, head-teacher, teaching-principal, building-principal, to principal. It’s no surprise this supervisory role now oversees predominantly administrative responsibilities. For more information, feel free to visit: https://ewa.org/issues/early-learning/history-and-background-school-leadership.
Our principals, today, set a clear vision for academic success, ensure teachers receive professional development, manage budgets, facilitate policies, create safe and inclusive environments where students and parents feel welcomed and supported, and engage with stakeholders to strengthen the school community. Regarding this latter role, I feel honored to work with many school principals on behalf of military-connected students.
In fact, I am especially appreciative of the time and effort expended by Mr. Larry Derr, Superintendent of Glenburn Public School, and Mrs. McCann, Principal of Erik Ramstad Middle School. These schools were the first schools in North Dakota to receive the Purple Star Award outside of Minot AFB, and both Mr. Derr and Mrs. McCann eagerly worked to meet the following four criteria as listed on https://www.nd.gov/dpi/educators/awards/purple-star-award:
How to Qualify
Schools must fulfill all the required activities listed below.
- Designate a staff point of contact (POC) for military students and families. The POC serves as the primary liaison between the military connected student, their family, and the school. The individual may be a counselor, administrator, teacher, or other staff member.
- Establish and maintain a dedicated page on its website featuring information and resources for military families.
- Maintain a student-led transition program to include a student transition team coordinator.
- Provide professional development for additional staff on special considerations for military students and families.
Optional school activities
- The local school board passes a resolution of the school’s support for military children and families.
• The school hosts a military recognition event to demonstrate a military-friendly culture at the school.
Now, Mr. Harlan Johnson and Mr. David McQueen are working on this award. Monthly, we meet to set one goal after another, and both High School Principals are now ready to submit their applications!
I asked how they felt about the process and why each desired to obtain the Purple Star Award, and here are their responses:
Mr. Derr: “Working toward the Purple Star Award was an important step in strengthening our support for military-connected students and families. As a district, we recognize the unique challenges these students face, and we wanted to ensure we had systems in place to provide consistency, communication, and support during transitions. The process allowed us to be intentional about our practices and strengthen our partnership with the Minot Air Force Base community.”
Mr. Larry Derr, Superintendent of Glenburn Public School
Mrs. McCann: “We applied for the Purple Star Award to deepen our commitment to the military-connected families who sacrifice so much for our community. Our goal was to ensure our students feel fully supported and recognized within the Ramstad family. The process was seamless thanks to Mrs. Kelly’s guidance, and we truly value the collaborative effort to strengthen our school culture.”
Mrs. Laura McCann, Principal of Erik Ramstad Middle School
Mr. Johnson: “The Purple Star process was a great opportunity for our team to really look at how we support military-connected students and families. It was important for us to pursue this because of our strong connection to Minot Air Force Base and our commitment to making sure those students feel welcomed and supported. It also gave us a clear way to keep improving the work we’re already doing.”
Mr. Harlan Johnson, Principal of Minot North High School
Mr. McQueen: “Minot High seeks Purple Star designation to demonstrate our commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families through strong relationships, communication, and tailored support. This recognition reflects our dedication to ensuring these students receive the stability, understanding, and opportunities they need to succeed. We have greatly appreciated the collaboration with our military school liaison, Alyssa Kelly, to help guide us through this process.”
Mr. David McQueen, Principal of Minot High School
As evident through these leaders’ hard work, we are lucky to live within a community of strong individuals devoted to serving students and families connected to our nation’s armed forces. Their desire to serve was voluntary, their effort commendable, and their impact widespread.
If I do not reach out to you fast enough and you are a local principal who desires this military-friendly designation, please reach out to me at mafb.school.liaison@us.af.mil.
The information in this article is provided as a resource and does not constitute endorsement by Minot AFB, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.
