Moorhead Area Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak presented Carla Smith with the district’s Spud Spirit Award for October 2023. Carla is the Principal at Ellen Hopkins Elementary; she is in her 19th year with the district and her ninth as a principal.
The Spud Spirit Committee, composed of members of the community, selected Carla from a group of deserving nominees. She is the first principal to receive the distinction.
“Principal Smith, you were nominated for this award by the parent of a student,” explained Dr. Lunak when he made a surprise appearance on the live Ellen Hopkins morning announcements to give the award. “This parent says you are someone that everyone needs in their life.”
In Carla’s nomination, the parent praised her cheerful, upbeat attitude, how she takes the time to talk and play with students when they arrive in the morning and shared how she would go above and beyond by assisting in crossing guard duties at Ellen Hopkins, “something you don’t normally see a principal do!”
Prior to coming to Ellen Hopkins for the 2023-24 school year, Carla served as principal at Probstfield Elementary, the online Spud Academy, Horizon West Middle School and S.G. Reinertsen Elementary. She started with the district as a teacher in 2005.
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.