| SLP High School principal has passion for education |
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| Thursday, 10 September 2009 | ||
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Staff writer Principal Frank Herman leads a new generation of students into a newly refurbished Spring Lake Park High School this fall.
Herman has led the building since 2006, when former principal Glenn Martin retired. Talk with Herman for a few minutes, and ultimately the conversation leads to education. “I’m very passionate about education,” said Herman, who his foster mother Carol Flaming teasingly referred to as an “edu-nerd.” Flaming, a speech pathologist in the public schools, was one of Herman’s role models when it came to selecting a career. “It was just her demeanor and how she treated kids,” Herman said. “She never said one thing bad about any kid ever.” But it was his college history professor at Bemidji State University who guided him into education. “Even though he had 200 students in his class, he knew who you were,” Herman said. “He made the curriculum come to life and it was like he was talking to you.” Herman first worked at SLP High School in 1994 as the dean of students. He later became director of the Learning Alternatives Community School where he remained for five years, until he took his current position. As principal he leads a staff of 145 employees, 87 of whom are licensed full- or part-time teachers. About 1,600 students are enrolled in the high school, including 200 in the Learning Alternatives Community School housed in the west side (Able Street) of the building. Herman attended high school in Mountain Lake, Minn. He graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in education from Hamline University. He holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato. This fall, he plans to continue working on his doctorate degree in education at St. Cloud State University. Before coming to District 16, Herman started his education career as a social studies teacher in the Cambridge School District. He has worked as dean of students and an administrative assistant at St. Louis Park Junior High School. Among Herman’s noted accomplishments are the co-founding of the high school’s Panther-Mentor Program with teacher Wendy Hatchner and growing the Learning Alternatives Community School program in the five years he served as its director. In the high school’s virtually new digs, he plans to continue the district’s vision: to have students college and world ready for a successful future. A strong advocate of the district’s philosophies, two years ago Herman moved his family from Rogers to District 16. “That’s a testament to the district – that I entrust my own kids,” he said. Herman is a single parent. His children are Erik, 17, a senior at the high school; Eryn, 13, an eighth-grader at Westwood Middle School; John, 11, a sixth-grader also at Westwood MS; and Jace, 5, a kindergartner at Northpoint Elementary. Away from work, Herman enjoys spending time with his family. He likes to read, hunt, hike and go camping. For Herman, undergoing the construction project at the newly renovated high school has reinforced a need for flexibility and humor during challenging times. But he says the “awesome” building was worth the wait. “I really love coming to work,” Herman said. “I wouldn’t want to be any place else.” Elyse Kaner is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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