Awards & Recongnition.

Celebrate these wonderful examples of leadership, dedication, and impact.

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Awards & Recognition

MAAP STARS Award Winner, Spring 2023

MAAP is proud to have honored hundreds of dedicated teachers, school leaders, and advocates over the last 40+ years.

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon individuals who exemplify unwavering dedication and exceptional service to students and colleagues within the Minnesota Association alternative program. This distinguished award celebrates the contributions of hard-working and devoted staff members who tirelessly work towards fostering a nurturing and enriching environment.

With utmost professionalism, these exceptional individuals go above and beyond to support and uplift their students, serving as mentors, guides, and advocates. Their commitment to excellence shines through their unwavering dedication, compassion, and innovative approaches to education.

School of the Year

School of the Year is an esteemed recognition bestowed upon the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs' exemplary institution. This prestigious award celebrates a school that epitomizes alternative education, showcasing innovative, forward-thinking, and inclusive programming.

Designed to empower students seeking excellence in an alternative learning environment, this unique school sets new standards in educational excellence. Join us in honoring their commitment to fostering creativity, individuality, and success for all students.

Exemplary Award

MAAP provides teachers & administrators with professional development, resources, and connection to a community of like-minded educators

Presidential Award

MAAP's programs foster independence, resilience, and success in students through personalized learning experiences.

awards & Recognition

MAAP Awards and Recognition

2022-2023

President

Bradley Jensen

Staff of the Year

Brandi Greer

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Paladin Career and Technical High School

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Chris Thompson

Exemplary Award

David VandenBoom

Exemplary Award

Daniel Lortiz

Presidential Award

Deborah Nelson

Presidential Award

2021-2022

President

Krissy Wright-Quinn

Staff of the Year

Megan Berres

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Osseo ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Joe Nathan

Exemplary Award

Doug Thomas

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2020-2021

President

Krissy Wright-Quinn

Staff of the Year

Linda Valentine

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Duluth ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Deanna Chiodo

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2019-2020

President

Peter Lundin

Staff of the Year

Jerald Nesland

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Milaca ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Steve Hammero

Exemplary Award

Tony Scallon

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Kristyn Martin

Presidential Award

2018-2019

President

Peter Lundin

Staff of the Year

Val Miller, NW Passage HS

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Rochester ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Tom Wendt

Exemplary Award

Mark Wolhart

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Greg Zimmerman

Presidential Award

2017-2018

President

Cliff Skagen

Staff of the Year

Martha Airhart

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Cloquet Area Alternative Education Programs

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Lea Dahl

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2016-2017

President

Cliff Skagen

Staff of the Year

Mike Myers-Schleif, McKinley Area Learning Center

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

SouthWest Metro High School

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Dave Hagman

Exemplary Award

Ted Kolderie

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Mike McGinnis

Presidential Award

Lois Kreidermacher

2015-2016

President

Craig Wignes

Staff of the Year

Bradon Wait, Paladin Career and Technical High School

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Northfield ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Sue Boehland

Exemplary Award

Katy Mohabir

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Kathy Lyerly

Presidential Award

2014-2015

President

Craig Wignes

Staff of the Year

Bob Goepel, Fairview Alternative HS

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Worthington ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Kip Sackett

Exemplary Award

Scott Neiman

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

De Musselman

Presidential Award

2013-2014

President

Dave Hagman

Staff of the Year

Mark Wolhart, Pillager Area Charter School

Staff of the Year

Sheila Getz, Hopkins Alternative Program

Staff of the Year

Theresa Boisjolie. Northwest Passage High School

School of the Year

Youth Service Project, McKinley ALC, St. Cloud

School of the Year

School of the Year

MN Valley ALC

Exemplary Award

Dee Thomas

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

James Pavlek

Presidential Award

2012-2013

President

Dave Hagman

Staff of the Year

Sara Segar, Jennings CLC

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Fairview Alternative High School

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Julia Jilek

Exemplary Award

Bill Zimneiwicz

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2011-2012

President

Sue Boehland

Staff of the Year

Diane Gjerstad, Freshwater ALC

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Austin ALC

School of the Year

Learning Alternatives Community School, Spring Lake Park

School of the Year

Targeted Services/Ivan Sand Community High School

Exemplary Award

Julie Johnson-Willborg

Exemplary Award

Lorin Ellertson

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2010-2011

President

Sue Boehland

Staff of the Year

Joy Turner, Phoenix Learning Center

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

VOA SALT High School

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Bob Wedl

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2009-2010

President

Steve Allen

Staff of the Year

Kip Sacket, Osseo ALC

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

None

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Mary K. Boyd

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Jim Snavley

Presidential Award

2008-2009

President

Steve Allen

Staff of the Year

Peg Sundell

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

River Bend ALC

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Joan Sorenson

Exemplary Award

Bob Wiltsey

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Laura Freer

Presidential Award

2007-2008

President

Terry Lydell

Staff of the Year

Julia Juliek, WBL ALC

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

Trio Wolf Creek Distance Learning Center

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Mike Luger

Exemplary Award

John Sedey

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2006-2007

President

Terry Lydell

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2005-2006

President

Synova Shelgren

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2004-2005

President

Synova Shelgren

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2003-2004

President

Deanna Chiodo

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Don Glines

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2002-2003

President

Deanna Chiodo

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

David Bly

Exemplary Award

Senator Paul Wellstone

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2001-2002

President

Bill Zimneiwicz

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Wally Campbell

Exemplary Award

Senator Jim Pehler

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

2000-2001

President

Bill Zimneiwicz

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Dan Daly

Exemplary Award

Patti Haasch

Exemplary Award

Peggy Hunter

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1999-2000

President

David Bly

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Arlo Renschler

Exemplary Award

Gov. Rudy Perpich

Exemplary Award

Lydell Taylor

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1998-1999

President

Dan Daly

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Steve Allen

Exemplary Award

Roger Klimpel

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1997-1998

President

Dan Daly

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Wayne Jennings

Exemplary Award

Bob Jibben

Exemplary Award

Gene Johnson

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1996-1997

President

Dan Daly

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1995-1996

President

Patti Haasch

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1994-1995

President

Patti Haasch

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1993-1994

President

June Long

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1992-1993

President

June Long

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1991-1992

President

Lorin Ellertson

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1990-1991

President

Lorin Ellertson

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1989-1990

President

John Lloyd

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1988-1989

President

John Lloyd

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1987-1988

President

Steve Allen

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1986-1987

President

Steve Allen

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1986-1986

President

Steve Allen

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1984-1985

President

Lydell Taylor

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

1983-1984

President

Lydell Taylor

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

Staff of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

School of the Year

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Exemplary Award

Presidential Award

Presidential Award