Carrie Arness, a first grade teacher at Dorothy Dodds Elementary, is an energetic, compassionate person who is an excellent time manager and believes the best in everyone she meets. Carrie does not give up. When challenges arise she is quick to go back to the drawing board and change direction, try something new or relearn a skill.
Superintendent Lunak recently visited Carrie’s Dorothy Dodd’s classroom to surprise her with the April Spud Spirit Award. “Carrie, you are a passionate, awesome human being. And you inspire others. One of your co-workers is in the process of earning their teacher license as a result of seeing you model how rewarding, fulfilling and important the teaching profession can be. What an awesome example of excellence in teaching and embodying Spud Spirit!”
The passion Carrie has for her students was clearly displayed during the fall PTAC student walk-a-thon in October. With her usual can-do attitude, Mrs. Arness made a sign to cheer on the young Spuds. It was a cold, blustery day and she donned her walking shoes and bundled up to take her class outside. Instead of dropping the students off with the parent volunteers, Carrie stayed the entire hour. Sacrificing her prep time, she walked and talked with students and parents and handed out bracelets as each first grader completed a lap. The first grade students were thrilled that Mrs. Arness took the time and energy to participate in the walk-a-thon with them in the cold.
Her nominator said that Carrie is always working toward making her classroom, school and community a more caring, enriching and safe place to be. “Carrie is fantastic at differentiating instruction and especially differentiating students' behavioral needs. Depending on the student's needs or diagnosis, she has a multi-tiered approach to discipline in her classroom and it is very effective. Carrie is always available to students' caregivers with a phone call or text,” said one of her peers.
The Spud Spirit Award is a recognition program that honors MAPS staff who live by the district mission to develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world and showcase our Spud Spirit statements:
- Students, staff, parents, families, and the Moorhead community
- Passionate, engaged, innovative, and growing in safe environments
- Unique, worthy, respectful, and relationship-based
- Diversity enriches our school and community
- Stewards of the public’s trust in effective and efficient operations
Spud Spirit Award nominations are made by staff, student families and community members in the Spring and Fall of each academic year.