Blog
Read the latest news and information from LEAF.
The Truth About Public Schools
By Dr. Laurie Putnam, Superintendent of St Cloud Area School District 742.
It’s fashionable these days to use public schools as a political talking point. Depending on who holds the microphone, schools are either failing our youth, wasting taxpayer dollars, or not doing enough to “fix” society’s problems—everything from declining civic engagement to the ri…
LEAF Pledges Two-Year Commitment to Fund St. Cloud Area Middle School Activities Fees
St. Cloud Area School District 742 and the Local Education & Activities Foundation (LEAF) announce LEAF’s $100,000 commitment to fund activities fees for all participating District 742 middle schoolers (grades 6-8) over the next two years.
The idea came about last fall, explains LEAF Executive Director Natalie Copeland, when school district leadership…
Embraced or Tolerated? The Difference Students Feel Every Day
There’s a quiet wisdom in this quote by S. Brown of @teachfortheculture: “Students know when they’re embraced vs. when they are just tolerated.” It speaks to something every student intuitively understands, even if they can’t always put it into words.
In every classroom, school hallway, or college office, the environment we create sends a message. When stu…
2025 LEAF 742 Distinguished Alumni Award
A little over two years ago, LEAF made a commitment to recognize outstanding District 742 alumni who have made the St. Cloud area their home and have a positive impact on the community. It was then that we began the “LEAF 742 Distinguished Alumni Award.”
The award criteria are:
Must be a graduate of a District 742 High School.
Must have stayed in th…
2025 LEAF 742 Instructional Excellence, Kristen Dollman-Stoll
Kristen has dedicated 25 years to shaping young artists as an elementary art teacher in District 742. She began her career at Lincoln Elementary before moving to Westwood, where she has taught for the past 21 years. Her commitment to her students and her craft is truly remarkable. Kristen’s car is often the last one in the parking lot at night, and she spen…