West Fargo educators earn Apple teacher designation

 

Nearly 200 educators from West Fargo Public Schools have earned Apple’s designation as an Apple Teacher by completing the company’s technology-based professional development program. 

Apple Teacher is a free, self-paced professional development program available to educators. The curriculum enhances educators’ competency with Apple products by offering skill-building lessons for apps like Keynote, Camera, Numbers, Pages, GarageBand, and iMovie. Participants are immersed in the program using guided tutorials and instructional ideas that they can discuss with colleagues and implement in their classrooms. After completing content-specific lessons, participants take a quiz in the virtual Apple Teacher Learning Center. Upon passing a quiz, they earn one of six badges reflecting advancement in instructional technology; the Apple Teacher designation is gained when an educator earns all six badges. 

Apple also offers the Apple Distinguished Schools program, which is an invitation-only program for schools that meet specific instructional, technological, and educational requirements. To be considered, a school must model innovative use of Apple products, have a majority of faculty with the Apple Teacher designation, have an established one-to-one device program, and provide documented success in instructional technology. Just over 500 schools in 32 countries have earned the Apple Distinguished School designation; North Dakota does not yet have an Apple Distinguished School. 

“Completing the Apple Teacher certificate demonstrates that an educator has spent time familiarizing themselves with each of the major Apple applications and their key features and functions. These applications allow students to demonstrate and share their learning in creative ways, thus enhancing their educational experience at West Fargo Public Schools,” remarked Mrs. Heather Sand, Director of Curriculum & Instruction. “This first class of WFPS Apple Educators is paving the way for our students to encounter an in-depth and unique application of instructional technology. We hope that with staff’s on-going commitment to professional learning and the successful implementation of our 1:1 device program, our schools will be on track for consideration as an Apple Distinguished School.” 

The following West Fargo Public Schools staff have earned the Apple Teacher designation since the program was implemented in 2019: 

Aipperspach, Penny 

Anderson, Allison 

Anderson, Brian 

Anderson, Kim 

Anderson, Mary 

Argall, Kacia 

Aune, Lisa 

Bardal, Darin 

Bartnick, Shannon 

Baumgardner, Stephanie 

Beck, Erin 

Becker-Olson, Susan 

Beil, Dawn 

Bell, Andrea 

Benson, Andrea 

Bieniek, Brianna 

Braasch, Eric 

Braun, John 

Brendemuhl, Fiona 

Bridgeford, Ashley 

Byzewski, Andrew 

Cameron, Ansley 

Carlson, Kjrstin 

Carlson, Tyler 

Christensen, Adam 

Clemenson, David 

Compton, Christopher 

Conant, Mary 

Cowman, Michael 

Cummings, Erin 

Cwikla, Stephanie 

Dauwen, Nanci 

Dodd, Aaron 

Dondoneau, Jon 

Easter, Kimberly 

Eberle, Noele 

Eckart, Sheri 

Elletson, Ralph 

Ellingson, Katie 

Engdahl, Kyle 

Evans, Karmen 

Evin, Tyler 

Finn, Charlotte 

Fritchman, Melissa 

Garaas, Stephen 

Gehrke, Shari 

Gibson, Jay 

Gienger, Kim 

Gieser, Heidi 

Goos, Rebecca 

Grant, Lewis 

Graves, Laurie 

Grommesh, Kelsey 

Grunig, Mitchell 

Harbott, Christine 

Hassel, Kaia 

Hausauer, Kate 

Heitkamp, Mindy Jo 

Helvik, Janae 

Hengel, Kelsey 

Heupel, Kristi 

Hillman, Nikki 

Hintz, Brent 

Hohertz, Robyn 

Holmen, Kallie 

Holmes, Kimberly 

Homuth, Megan 

Hoornaert, Dan 

Hulderman, Krista 

Hutchinson, Tara 

Idso, Kelly 

Jablonsky, Amanda 

Jensen, Todd 

Jenson, Kassandra 

Johnson, Spencer 

Julius, Morgan 

Jung, Alison 

Kack-Johnson, Robin 

Karch, Joshua 

Karnik, Bethany 

Kiefert, Erin 

Kirchoffner, Thomas 

Klaman, Matthew 

Knapp, McKinzie 

Knodel, Aaron 

Kowalski, Kelsey 

Kranz, Nicholas 

Kremer, Melissa 

Krenelka, Danielle 

Kruckenberg, Erin 

Kruse, Abby 

Kurtti, Nathan 

Lachowitzer, Seth 

Laliberte, Marilyn 

Leitheiser, Trent 

Liebl, Lori 

Lind, Rebecca 

Lutovsky, Jordan 

Mayer, Ryan 

Mayer-Schmit, Brett 

Mcilonie, Melissa 

Melby, Nora 

Melland, Jennifer 

Mercil, Lisa 

Milbrath, Morgan 

Miller, Jenny 

Miller-Wollan, Jessica 

Moen, Lori 

Nack, Andrew 

Nein, Robin 

Neitzke, Samantha 

Newton, Leah 

Nill, Katie 

O'Berg, Michelle 

Oistad, Jana 

Olson, Sabrina 

Olson, Samantha 

Ott, Rose 

Pasiowitz, Courtney 

Peck, Kimberly 

Peterson, Elsie 

Peterson, Marnie 

Pfiefer, Jodi 

Pickett, Malory 

Pollert, Erica 

Raile, Jessi 

Ramberg, Lindsey 

Ray, Daniel 

Reed, Bryan 

Rice, Tyler 

Roehrich, Shawn 

Rogness, Elizabeth 

Rosenfeldt, LaRae 

Rott, Andrew 

Salvatore, Emily 

Sand, Heather 

Schaeffer, BreAnne 

Schempp, Amber 

Seibold, Ashley 

Seyfried, Nicole 

Shearer, Jennifer 

Simenson, Lindsey 

Simon, Tessa 

Sitzman, Hannah 

Spilde, Rhonda 

Stangeland, Kathryn 

Steiner, Cindy 

Steiner, Jessica 

Stormon, Kara 

Strand-Rysgaard, 

Holly 

Stuart, Allison 

Suckow, Lydia 

Svor, Josh 

Swanson, Stephanie 

Swedberg, Rollin 

Swegarden, Abby 

Symington, Ashlee 

Syvertson, Eric 

Thibert, Cole 

Thielges, Aaron 

Thorstad, Amber 

Tostenson, Amber 

Trowbridge, Danielle 

Tykwinkski, Anna 

Uetz, Debra 

Ulven, Jill 

VonPinnon, Jennifer 

Walski, Stephanie 

Walters, Veronique 

Ward, Jill 

Waters, Rachelle 

Watson, Jamie 

Watzke, Erin 

Weiler, Twana 

Westphal, Molly 

Whaley, Thomas 

Wigglesworth, Jessica 

Wold, Jill 

Wolden, Jennifer 

Wollan, Jennifer 

Wosick, Hope