A Message from Principal Kurtt

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. It is with much excitement and anticipation that I begin my third year serving as the principal at Crossroads Park Elementary. We have so much to look forward to this year, and together, we will make this year meaningful and full of learning! Every staff member works diligently to ensure a safe, joyful, and rigorous learning experience for students each day. I believe that our ongoing collaboration as a community of teachers, parents, students, support staff, and administration will be the key to ensuring the success and safety of every student. At Crossroads Park we are committed to our district vision of fostering a “caring community of learners that knows and lifts every child.”

This year we welcome many new staff members to our family. Each of them bring experiences, expertise, and energy that is going to only make us stronger. We are lucky to have them joining our community. A big welcome to:

• Assistant Principal: Emily Backus
• Counselor: Jill Curry
• Behavior Interventionist: Danielle Walter
• First Grade Teacher: Kaylee Bean
• First Grade Teacher: Regan Gaskill
• First Grade Teacher: Ellie Peters
• Fourth Grade Teacher: Tayler Janssen
• Fifth Grade Teacher: Claire Krause 
• Fifth Grade Teacher: Abby Tonder
• Sixth Grade Teacher: Tori Shaffer
• Special Education Teacher: Courtney Schulte
• English For Speakers of Other Languages Teacher: Deb Burford
  
  

During the first six weeks of school, our daily morning meetings will focus on teaching our PBIS expectations as well as the social and emotional life skills that contribute to a positive learning community. Common language and clearly taught expectations are foundational to a safe community and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) serves as our school wide system to teach and reinforce positive behavior. 

We focus everything on BE CRP, which stands for Engaged, Careful, Respectful and Prepared. When all students and staff do their part to keep our school safe, our focus and energy can be poured into creating a rigorous learning environment grounded in the characteristics we want every student to embody. We can only accomplish our highest potential as a building, classroom, or individual when we are present and engaged in the learning community consistently. “We can’t BE CRP without ME” is going to be a phrase you hear this year to help students begin to understand and embrace how much we value their presence, their ideas, and their leadership each day.

As a mom of a 21-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son, I understand all the emotions, hopes, and dreams you have for your students, and that is what will ground our collaboration this year as we all work together to guide learning, celebrate successes, and engage as a Crossroads Park family.

Go Tigers!

Tricia Kurtt
Principal