Minnesota’s Principal of the Year Curt Slater prepares teachers in West Salem

Slater works with school districts nationwide to help districts build strong support systems
Jordan Fremstad,
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by Jordan Fremstad

WEST SALEM, Wis. (WKBT) – The school year is less than two weeks away and West Salem teachers played the role of students Monday. The 2018 National Distinguished Principal of the Year for Minnesota, Curt Slater, spoke to West Salem school staff at back-to-school orientation.

Slater worked in a variety of roles within the U.S. public school system as a teacher, dean of students, associate principal, and principal. Slater’s presentation continues an initiative in the district started last year to improve staff, student, and community mental health. Slater understands the need for strong, confident school staff because of the impact these people had on his life.

“I grew up in a very dysfunctional home and I took a lot of that disfunction to school,” Slater said. “I was one of the last students teachers wanted on their class list.

“I’m in front of them today because educators like them … all those people made an impact in my life to be able to be where I am today.”

Slater works with school districts across the country to work on how to support change within their schools.

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