|  | | MESPA Home > Honors > MESPA Division Leadership Award > 2009 Awards |  | Stephen Gorde, East Suburban Division
 | | Stephen Gorde, principal Rutherford Elementary, Stillwater |
Educational philosophy: “Great opportunities to help others seldom come but small ones surround us daily.” (Sally Koch)
Gorde lists as his most significant career achievements:
Writing and receiving a Collaborative Urban Educator Grant approved through the Minnesota Department of Education that provided funds for six people working as East Metro Integration District paraprofessionals to go back to school and complete a teaching degree program at a local college or university.
Being part of the original staff that opened the Tri-District School, now Harambe School in Maplewood. “This was the first of a kind voluntary integration program for urban and suburban students. North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale, Roseville and St. Paul were the original participants. I was able to help develop and design programs and assessments for a brand new school. I also was in charge of selecting and purchasing all the materials for the media center. This included the integration of technology from the development of a video production studio to all hardware and software designed to support the dual foci of multicultural instruction and environmental education.”
While teaching at the Vienna International School (Vienna, Austria), participating with a team of teachers from around the world to develop elementary curriculum for the International Schools' Curriculum Project; this program has evolved into the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.
In nominating Gorde, Garin Bogenholm (principal, Roseville) noted: “Stephen is very active in the East Suburban division and was one of the people that welcomed me and took me under his wing when I joined MESPA. He has been a strong leader in public education for many years. Stephen is the longest tenured elementary principal in Stillwater schools and is a well-respected principal in both his district and throughout our division.”
Other recognitions: MESPA EPAC representative and Institute presenter; SEED facilitator; MI State University, College of Ed., Certificate of Merit, Outstanding Academic Achievement in Graduate Studies;Trainer (Reach Center, First Steps); Presenter (European Council of International School Mathematics conference, NWEA seminar); Certificate of Appreciation, Collaborative Urban Educator Program; Distinguished Alumni Award, Hill Murray High School.
|
|
