Gosh, I am thankful for curiosity and collaboration. Whether in my home, out at a store, or inside the walls of Spectrum, when I present to the Elk River Chamber or the Board or just a phone call with one of you, curiosity helps me process and explain, be creative and supportive, and builds confidence and trust. Want some proof? Take a look at some of the many positives for which I am thankful:
- Thankful for you, Spectrum families, for your wonderful support
- Thankful for those families in particular that reach out with the desire to partner in times and areas of concern or disagreement, using their voice to explore possibilities
- Thankful for when I have had to say No, that is just not possible, that we can still have a positive relationship, knowing that we will always be here to partner for a better future
- Thankful for when families reply with positive communications and connections and make it a priority to support my staff and me personally so I can in turn be supportive
- Thankful for wonderful teachers that are willing to learn and grow themselves
- Thankful for the Spectrum Board and our Executive Director, Dan DeBruyn
- Thankful for Mr. Leland and his support as a colleague and friend
- Thankful for Ms. Sommerstad’s friendship, wisdom, and approach to supporting middle-level learners
- Thankful for Ms. Hahn for being a part of the elementary/middle-school leadership team and connecting with learners, helping them navigate the challenges of the tween years
- Thankful for Ms. Siegel and Ms. Burfeind & Ms. Chaffin and Ms. Emmel for greeting families and students every day, along with health support, attendance, and all the other “things” that pop up during a 5th - 8th grade day
- Thankful for Ms. Moe’s, Mr. Gangl’s, and Mr. Brunt’s leadership as team leaders
- Thankful for Ms. Hernandez-Diaz and Ms. Lemmermann’s positive attitudes when serving food to our kids every morning and every day
- Thankful to the teachers that voice their ideas and opinions as a part of the Collaborative Leadership Team in helping make Spectrum great
- Thankful for Ms. Johnson and Ms. Hegseth for their curriculum expertise, energy, and support.
- Thankful to Mr. Johnson and Mr. Burkstrand and all the custodians who keep our campuses safe and clean, truly top-notch
- Thankful for Mr. Steensland, with the help of Mr. Brunt, and guidance of the WIN program
- Thankful for Mr. Patterson and Ms. Batts and their leadership in weekly Directed Study student support
- Thankful for Ms. Faatz for leading the Spectrum Student Spirit (Student Council) Leaders
- Thankful for our paraprofessionals and their work with the learners that have specific special needs
- Thankful for resources/tools/devices to be able to learn
- Thankful for all that when feeling negative or down make a conscious effort to communicate with kindness, proactively seeking out support to make a difficult situation better
- And, of course, I want to thank the students for being patient and persistent in their learning, making these days, weeks, and months the best they can be. More often than not, I see smiles on faces and the joy and challenges of the middle-level years being met head on. It makes all the time and effort worthwhile!
Lastly, a personal thank you for taking the time to validate my time as I write these each month, allowing me the opportunity to process my experiences and thoughts, supporting and serving you as principal. I hope you have or can make some time to take a moment and see all the things worthy of being thankful for in the weeks to come: Happy Thanksgiving!
Weeks at a Glance
- Teacher Professional Development - No School: Monday, November 17
- Teacher Trimester Two Preparation - No School: Tuesday, November 18
- Beginning of Trimester 2 - Wednesday, November 19
- Thanksgiving Break - No School: Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28
- Winter Fine Arts Performances - Choir Concert, Tuesday, December 2 @ 5:30, Spectrum High School
Open Enrollment
Help us spread the word to your neighbors, friends, family, and community:
Spectrum Schools is accepting enrollment applications for NEW students for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2026, to be included in the mid-February 2026, Enrollment Lottery.
IMPORTANT: Siblings must submit an application to be considered for enrollment.
Sign up for an Information & Tour Session with the Spectrum Registrar or call 763-241-8703 for more details.
Thank you for helping us grow our Spectrum community!