Greetings!

If this is your first time viewing the Big Lake Schools' website or if you’re new to Big Lake…I welcome you. I hope you find Big Lake Schools is what you’re looking for to meet the needs of your student to receive a great education. Our schools are full of dedicated, caring teachers, staff and administrators willing to do whatever it takes to help your student succeed.  Please contact me, or any building principal, to arrange a tour of the schools to learn firsthand what Big Lake has to offer.  If you’re not new to the district, I sincerely hope the experiences you and your student are having meet or exceed your expectations. I also encourage you to contact me with any questions, suggestions or concerns.

The district has initiated many facility improvements in the last few years.  In May 2016, voters approved a $9 million bond referendum to improve district facilities.  The list of improvements is long, but it included mechanical system upgrades, secure entrances in all buildings, new lighting and sound in the performing arts center, 15 acres of additional ball field space, lighting on five ball fields, restroom/concession building at Hornet Stadium, new playgrounds at both elementary schools… just to name a few.  State funding earmarked for facility improvements has also allowed the district to improve the exterior of each building.  This work included new roofs at three of the four schools, improved parking lots, and new tennis courts. 

Academically, the focus has been on providing students in all buildings with more options.  STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum is now part of each school.  Students learn about computer coding and robotics starting in 2nd grade.  A technology course, called Launch, is taught by a specially trained teacher to all students in grades 2-5. While middle school students all have a technology course where students build and program robots and high school students can participate on a robotics team and take several Project Lead the Way (engineering) courses. The district is continually updating the content of courses and providing new options to meet the needs of students.

Quality instruction is the core element of effective student learning.  Without quality teachers in each classroom, the goal of learning for all cannot be met.  The district has increased the training provided to teachers to align curriculum, identify essential learning targets, using data to drive instruction and for effectively using technology for instruction and learning. To better support teachers in their work, the district also has instructional coaches in each school, an elementary reading interventionist, a secondary technology coach and is implementing co-teaching in several areas.

Thanks for learning more about Big Lake Schools and our journey towards creating the schools all students need and deserve.