Administrators selected for posts in Grand Forks school system
Jun. 17—Three administrative appointments, including the next executive director of special education for the district, have been announced by Grand Forks Public Schools.
Elisa Diederich, who is serving as associate principal at Lake Agassiz Elementary School, has been selected as executive director of special education. She replaces Tricia Lee, who has accepted a position as chief executive officer at Development Homes, Inc., in Grand Forks.
Diederich has served in several other capacities in the district, including Title 1 coordinator, principal designee at West Elementary School, and speech language pathologist. Her salary will be $122,592, but could be adjusted based on bargaining which is underway between the Grand Forks Directors Association and the School Board.
She holds a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders, and a master's degree in speech language pathology from UND. She is enrolled in the educational leadership and practice doctoral program at UND, and plans to complete the doctoral degree in August.
Anthony Vandal has been selected as the next associate principal at Lake Agassiz Elementary School. His salary will be $92,490. He is currently director of education for the Williston Public School District. He has experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and interim principal during his career in Williston.
Vandal holds an associate degree in general studies from Turtle Mountain Community College, a bachelor's degree in elementary education from UND, a master's degree in educational leadership from Concordia University St. Paul and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Mary in Bismarck.
Chad Kurtyka, an instructional design coach at Phoenix Elementary School, has been selected as the next associate principal of Discovery Elementary School. His salary will be $81,686. He has served in several other roles in Grand Forks schools, including as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher, Title 1 paraprofessional and student-teacher.
Kurtyka, who holds a bachelor's degree in education at UND and is planning to complete a master's degree in educational leadership at UND in May 2022.
As associate principal at Discovery, Kurtyka will replace Loren Hoheisel, who has been hired as the next principal at Lewis and Clark Elementary School.
The Grand Forks School Board approved the district administration's hiring recommendations at its Monday, June 14, meeting. All the appointments are effective July 1.
