[0:05] - I'm Dr. Teri Staloch,

[0:06] and I'm delighted to serve

[0:08] as the Superintendent of

Robbinsdale Area Schools.

[0:10] One of my priorities is to

champion our district mission,

[0:13] which is to inspire and

educate all learners

[0:17] to develop their unique potential

[0:18] and to positively contribute

to their community.

[0:22] I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,

[0:23] 'cause I wanted to change the world

[0:24] and make it a better place,

[0:26] and teaching is in my blood.

[0:28] I was fortunate to grow up on

a farm in southern Minnesota

[0:31] with a family that loved

me and instilled in me

[0:33] the values of hard work,

community, and education.

[0:37] My grandmother, who

lived be 101 years old,

[0:40] taught first through eighth grade students

[0:42] in a one-room schoolhouse.

[0:44] I honor her commitment to all learners,

[0:46] and her influence and joy

is alive in me each day.

[0:50] My father, a farmer, was

always the first person

[0:53] to lend a hand to anyone in need.

[0:55] This commitment to service

was likely a key driver

[0:58] to Dad serving on our

community school board.

[1:01] After graduating from high school,

[1:03] I attended Luther College,

[1:04] where I played volleyball

[1:05] and earned a degree in English education.

[1:08] I spent 10 years teaching English

[1:10] to middle school students in St. Charles.

[1:12] I loved it.

[1:14] As a teacher, you never know the impact

[1:16] that you have on others.

[1:17] However, over the years,

[1:18] I've received some amazing

letters and emails from students,

[1:22] thanking me for the difference

I made in their lives.

[1:25] They taught me to listen to

their voices and stories,

[1:27] which is why I loved

being an English teacher.

[1:30] They taught me to meet

them where they were,

[1:32] to accept them as they were,

[1:34] and to push them to achieve beyond

[1:37] what they ever thought was possible.

[1:39] Just as students have

always been my teachers,

[1:42] I've also had important

friends and mentors

[1:44] throughout my life

[1:45] who have pushed me out of my comfort zone

[1:48] to expand my impact beyond the classroom

[1:50] and encouraged me to lead.

[1:52] As an educator who is

married to an educator

[1:55] who belongs to a family of educators

[1:57] and spends free time with

friends who are educators,

[2:00] I engage in constant conversation

about what students need,

[2:03] what staff need, what leaders

need, what families need,

[2:07] and how those needs can only happen

[2:10] if we transform our schools

[2:12] to ensure equity and

excellence for each student.

[2:15] As a proud parent to two

sons, Tate and Tegan,

[2:18] I watched them navigate school

[2:20] and I constantly worried

about what they needed

[2:22] to be successful.

[2:23] What I have learned from my sons

[2:25] is they wanted and needed the same things

[2:27] that I want every child

to have to be successful:

[2:31] they need relationships.

[2:32] We watched our sons work with many staff

[2:34] who believed in them,

[2:35] who had high expectations of them,

[2:38] and who supported them.

[2:39] They also need effective instruction

[2:41] for academic excellence,

[2:43] and finally, they and all students

[2:45] need a sense of love and belonging.

[2:47] Our boys liked going to school

[2:49] because they got to be with their friends

[2:50] and they were involved in

athletics and activities

[2:53] beyond the classroom,

[2:54] where they learned valuable lessons

[2:56] about themselves and others.

[2:58] I know the experience that

Tate and Tegan had in school

[3:01] is not the experience

of all of our students.

[3:03] However, it is my goal

that all of our students

[3:08] receive an excellent education

grounded in relationships

[3:12] and a school culture that

provides a sense of belonging

[3:14] for kids to authentically show up.

[3:18] I can't separate who I am as a leader

[3:20] from who I am as a wife, a mom,

[3:24] a friend, or a family member.

[3:30] I live and lead with

passion, joy, and love,

[3:33] and I'm excited to positively impact

[3:35] Robbinsdale Area Schools.

[3:37] We have so many great things

happening in our district.

[3:40] I believe it is a perfect time

[3:42] for all of us to look through a new lens

[3:44] and rediscover Rdale as

we unleash our potential.

[3:48] It's no coincidence that Rediscover Rdale

[3:51] is the name of our strategic plan,

[3:54] a roadmap to engage

students, families, and staff

[3:57] in the joyful work of

learning and teaching.

[4:00] I will continue to build

[4:01] on the Rediscover Rdale Strategic Plan,

[4:04] which emphasizes that students

[4:05] are truly invested in their

education and in learning,

[4:09] families believe their

children are truly welcomed,

[4:12] included, and safe at school,

[4:14] and staff members feel supported

[4:16] on a path toward academic

and operational excellence.

[4:20] As your new superintendent,

[4:22] you can expect to find me

throughout our seven cities,

[4:25] from sports and fine arts and activities

[4:27] to community events and festivals,

[4:29] and you'll definitely

find me in our schools

[4:32] to see the dynamic learning

[4:33] and the magic that takes

place in our classrooms.

[4:36] I'm thrilled to have the opportunity

[4:38] to lead Robbinsdale Area Schools

[4:40] and I look forward to working

in partnership with you

[4:43] as I listen, learn,

leverage talent, and lead

[4:47] to ensure our mission comes

to life for each student,

[4:51] as we all believe in one another,

[4:53] belong to the Rdale community,

[4:55] and become who we are meant to be.