Throughout the history of our school district, Staples Motley has earned recognition as leading the state in innovation and creativity. In past years, our leade rship in educational delivery has been show- cased in such areas as the Model School, the Voyag eur House and the Ice House.

The far reaching impact of these became apparent to me when visiting Beacon Academy, an elementary school in Hopkins. At the end of this experience we were thanking the director of this school for her hospitality. She informed us that it was her honor to host representatives from the Staples Motley School District.

She went on to explain that at the beginning of her career she was inspired by our staff as she came to the Staples School District to tour the school and was housed by the dedicated teaching staff. Her sincere gratitude was emotional and brought home the idea that we never know when we will touch the life of another because of what we do.

More recently, our employees and school board have taken a leadership role by working to create multiple opportunities to meet the learning needs of all students. This has been evident through projects such as the charter school applications, which focused on technology and project-based learning, through the writing of the E2T2 grant that will allow staff to use technology and innovative teaching styles in the classroom, and through our employee's commitment to a professional learning community that focuses on ongoing discussions to improve instruction.

Originally designed to open up students schedules, online learning is another example of educational leadership by our employees and school board. In its third year of implementation, online learning options have exceeded expectations. Our school district is one of the few school districts in the state to offer an online education in a hybrid format. Staples Motley students have the opportunity to take classes not otherwise offered, like French or architecture, while continuing a traditional high school environment for their remaining courses.

As a result of the hard work of our school board and employees, this summer and fall I began to receive phone calls from the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner has been asking me to sit on a variety of advisory councils. I am humbled and honored to accept her invitations to represent our school district in several leadership opportunities that I trust will ultimately be good for our students.

The first leadership role I am excited to become involved in is the legislatively created "Innovative School Advisory Council," where I am the sole superintendent on the committee. I am also honored to be amongst a group of individuals charged with the responsibility to design the state's application for the $4.3 billion "Race to the Top" grant.

Finally, I have been invited by the Commissioner to represent Minnesota at the Peabody Professional Institute at Vanderbilt Peabody College next July. This is an opportunity to explore recent innovations in leadership and management of school systems by our nation's foremost experts in school leadership.

It is through the dedication, leadership and innovative thinking of our employees and school board members that our Staples Motley School District is once again being recognized as an educational leader - which, in an everchanging time for our children, is a great place to be.

For more information about what is happening in the Staples Motley School District, please check our website at www.isd2170.k12. mn.us and our Facebook page to become aware of what's happening in our schools. If you have questions, please contact me at 218-894-2430 or mschmitz@ isd2170.k12.mn.us.