Dear DPS Families,
As I complete my fifth year as superintendent of Dickinson Public Schools, I continue to be amazed by what our students, staff, and community can accomplish together. Every school year brings new challenges and opportunities, and this year was no exception. From academic achievement and athletic success to workforce development and student leadership, there is much to celebrate across our district.
As we close another incredible school year, I want to thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust in Dickinson Public Schools.
Academic Excellence and Career Readiness: Academically, DPS students continue to excel. Students earned college credits through Dual Credit, Advanced Placement, and Early Entry opportunities, while many also earned industry certifications through the Southwest Area Career and Technical Education Academy. This year, 93 junior and senior students participated in workplace learning internships with businesses and organizations in our community, gaining valuable hands-on experience and professional skills while exploring future career opportunities.
This year’s graduating class includes students pursuing careers in engineering, education, welding, diesel technology, healthcare, agriculture, the military, and numerous other high-demand fields. As I age, I am grateful that many of our students will someday not only lead our community and country but also care for us as we age.
Student Achievement: Our students also achieved tremendous success outside the classroom this year. Dickinson High School celebrated WDA and State championships, students broke school records, and teams and individuals earned top finishes at the regional and state levels.
Students excelled in FCCLA, SkillsUSA, FFA, student council leadership, music, robotics, science, and academic competitions. SWCTE students qualified for national competition, DHS students earned recognition as National Merit Finalists, and students participating in NASA’s TechRise Challenge were selected as one of only 60 winning teams nationwide to send an experiment into spaceflight conditions.
We also saw outstanding accomplishments in the arts and academics. DHS choir and band students were selected to prestigious regional and state honor ensembles; Dickinson Middle School students captured a regional Future City championship that advanced them to Washington, D.C.; and DMS students earned top finishes in Acalympics competition. Students across the district also continued to demonstrate creativity, leadership, and innovation in countless ways, including earning state and national recognition for advanced research, engineering, and technology projects.
There are far too many accomplishments to list in a single letter, and truthfully, that is one of the greatest compliments we can give our students, staff, and schools. It is truly incredible to see the amazing things our students are capable of. DPS truly offers opportunities for the entire child, academically, vocationally, and socially.
Recognizing Our Staff and Schools: The success of our students is only possible because of the incredible educators and staff who support them every day. This year, Stark County also recognized one of our outstanding educators as Teacher of the Year, and Prairie Rose Elementary earned the designation as a National Gold Star School, an honor recognizing excellence in school culture, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Student Well-Being and School Culture: One of the accomplishments I am most proud of is the progress we continue to make in supporting student behavior and well-being. Through the hard work of our staff and the partnership of our families, we are seeing fewer discipline referrals, fewer suspensions, and more students finding success in school. Creating safe, supportive learning environments remains a priority, and our schools continue to make meaningful progress while accepting all kids.
Looking Ahead: Even though the school year has ended, preparations for next year are already underway. Throughout the summer, our staff will continue planning lessons, refining curriculum, preparing classrooms, maintaining facilities, and creating opportunities to ensure students have a strong start this fall. That commitment reflects the dedication of the people who make Dickinson Public Schools such a special place.
I also want to provide a brief update regarding the email scam incident that impacted the district earlier this year. We are grateful for the support and assistance provided by local and federal authorities throughout the investigation and recovery process. At this time, the funds have been successfully recovered, and we are awaiting final processing and their return to the district. This process is expected to be completed over the next 4 to 10 months, according to the FBI. While the situation was challenging, I am proud of the professionalism and persistence demonstrated by our staff and partners throughout the process. These funds will be used to restore the additional scope added to the Dickinson High School construction project. This could include P.E. & Strength and Conditioning space, Wrestling, Facility Mgmt., storage, and Gymnastics. These are all programs affected by demolition, program movement, and/or limited by existing space.
I hope your family enjoys a safe, restful, and well-deserved summer. Take time to recharge, spend time together, and enjoy all that summer in North Dakota has to offer. We look forward to welcoming our students back in the fall for another great year.
If I could ask one thing of you as a parent, please consider discussing the use of technology, screens, and social media with your child. The link below is a Mayo Clinic guide on the appropriate amount of screen time for students. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/screen-time/art-20047952
One of our district’s goals this year is to become more cognizant about the total amount of screen time students use during the school day. Technology is an important part of our lives, but science is becoming quite clear that unstructured screen time is having a profound impact on the development of our children’s brains.
Please take a minute to read this important notice regarding our transition from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus: https://www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/our-district/news/1827338/important-update-student-information-system-transition.
With gratitude,
Dr. Marcus Lewton
Superintendent
Dickinson Public Schools