Moorhead Area Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak stopped by Horizon Middle School East to present the first Spud Spirit Award for the 2025-26 school year to BARR Coordinator Rachel Lerum. Rachel is about to start her 28th year of service with the district.
Dr. Lunak surprised Rachel during a meeting at the Horizon East office with principal Spencer Stowers and assistant principal Cory Holten. He told her that her nominators, all colleagues, described her as the type of person someone would dream to have as a colleague and the type of coworker everyone should aspire to be.
“There are few people I am more thankful for as a colleague than Rachel,” said Dr. Lunak, sharing one nominator’s words. “The number of times I have had a question, needed advice, or just extra help where Rachel has come through is simply remarkable. Given her role, she has a direct impact on how communication flows in our building and she does an incredible job of organizing countless amounts of student information for such a large building.”
He went on to share a story passed along by another nominator: “I had some extra popcorn leftover from a movie day I hosted in my classroom, and I gave Rachel one, and she shared it with all of her students as they were in the hallway and making their way to class. It was so genuine and you could tell the students really like her. She tries so hard to make sure those kids feel heard, accepted and cared for.”
Hearing the kind words of her Horizon East colleagues brought tears to Rachel’s eyes during the presentation.
Rachel’s care for her colleagues, students and all of Horizon East are great examples of the district’s mission to develop the maximum potential of every student to thrive in a changing world.
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. Nominations are open at the beginning of each semester during the school year.