Jen Brodal/MDN John Alstad, principal of John Hoeven Middle School, is shown with his award as recipient of the 2023 North Dakota Principal of the Year.

John Alstad, principal at John Hoeven Elementary School in Minot, is this year’s recipient of the North Dakota Principal of the Year.

Originally from West Fargo, where he began his teaching career, he then spent 15 years in Bismarck schools as a principal when he took on the role of principal for the past two years at John Hoeven Elementary School.

“I fell in love with a girl from Minot,” said Alstad, explaining what brought him to Minot and now receiving the state’s principal of the year. “It’s a huge honor, an exciting honor and a humbling honor, and I guess the way I like to look at it is, it’s not me, it’s me representing my colleagues who do the same work.”

The National Distinguished Principal Program honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who ensure that America’s children acquire a sound foundation for lifelong learning and achievement, according to National Association of Elementary School Principals. Later this year Alstad will visit Washington, D.C., with the other 49 NDP’s for a conference, black tie dinner and tour of the capital city, in recognition for this achievement.

Alstad said when a person is nominated for regional principal of the year among eight regions, then that person is running for the principal of the year.

“They’ve really rolled out the red carpet for me here at the school. They put a sign out in front of the school, and students, parents and colleagues have been very congratulatory,” Alstad said.

Some of the criteria are the practices in place for the kids in the school, Alstad said, “We have positive behavior supports in place. We do a lot with our social and emotional learning with students and staff. We really try and make everybody feel a sense of belonging and purpose. There’s a thing called collective efficacy. It’s one of the most important things for a school to have where if we work together, we can move mountains and get kids to where they need to be, and that’s one of the things we have going for us.”