2018 Leadership Award Recipient | Tracy Quarnstrom

TRACY QUARNSTROM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TRIO WOLF CREEK DISTANCE LEARNING CHARTER SCHOOL

Tracy Quarnstrom is the founder and has been the Executive Director of TRIO Wolf Creek since the school started 16 years ago.

Tracy values quality curriculum creation, and Tracy models this by providing teachers with tools, resources, and, most importantly, time to commit to curriculum development. She encourages professional development at Wolf Creek, empowering staff to learn more about innovative methods of teaching and by giving generous amount of time during the week for the Professional Learning Community activities. She works to foster a positive work environment through building relationships with staff through ongoing communication and celebrating staff work – through facilitating a series of end of the year awards – Staff Member of the Year, Course of the Year, and various other awards.

Tracy has empowered staff through establishing committees and working groups on a host of topics and programs, including Health and Wellness, Marketing, Technology and Curriculum, Academic Policy, etc.

Tracy works effectively with the board to ensure new board members have the education they need to fulfill their responsibilities, and reviews the school’s strategic goals with the board on a monthly basis.

Tracy work diligently to ensure that courses are created to engage students with the curriculum that is personalized, engaging, and differentiated, and which will lead to student success in an online environment. She has implemented a Learning Manager model at the school. In addition to ensuring that every student has a Learning Manager who serves a mentor to guide the student, she has secured funding to ensure that students can meet with licensed family therapists to help them manage their mental health needs to be successful.

Tracy cultivates partnerships and is involved in the alternative learning, online education, accreditation, and charter school communities serving in leadership capacities in MAAP, MNOLA, MACS and AdvancedED. She has made presentations at MAAP and iNACOL on online education and, is an adjunct professor at Hamline University training principals and superintendents, ensuring that part of their education helps them understand charter schools and online education.