Breitkreutz receives second statewide award

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

The Sartell-St. Stephen school district’s director of technology has received his second statewide award in the past four months.

Kyle Breitkreutz received the Minnesota Association of School Administrators 2019 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award. Breitkreutz received this award for exhibiting a willingness to risk, possessing strong communications skills, being a progressive change agent and having high expectations for himself and others. He will be honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the group’s spring conference March 7-8, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.

In December, Breitkreutz received the Sourcewell Technology Minnesota Leader of the Year Award in Minneapolis.

The award recognizes “demonstrated effective leadership in using information technologies to increase opportunities and accessibility for student learning.”

Assistant superintendent Kay Nelson nominated Breitkreutz for the award.

“It was fantastic to be recognized by Independent School District 748 (and) Kay Nelson, who nominated me,” Breitkreutz said. “To then be selected by past award recipients across the state was really an honor.”

Breitkreutz said as director of technology he has learned from many others in his position from across the state.

“The award is a reflection of the district’s team approach with instructional technology specialists and information technology, along with administration and school board support, to help better equip our fantastic teaching staff and our end goal of helping students,” he said.

“The district is very proud of Kyle in receiving this award,” Nelson said. “His leadership and efforts to enhance our student experience are well respected throughout our school community. It is just great to see him recognized at a state level as well.”

Breitkreutz leads the district’s Full Access technology plan which provides a device to every student in third- through 12th grades and expanded access to kindergarten through second-grade. He also leads a team of instructional technology specialists who created an annual event, Education Done Differently, that invites everyone in the area to learn from students and teachers about how their learning is improved through technology.

Breitkreutz has grown accessible educational materials access in the district from just few students to launching it building-wide at the middle school.

He worked with special education, general education, administration and instructional technology support to research and select tools that meet the needs of the district’s early youth and provide new access to print materials through audio and visual supports.

Breitkreutz has been an employee of the district for more than 12 years and became the director of technology in 2012.

He earned his Certified Education Technology Leader certification, which demonstrates mastery and skill in defining and creating 21st-century learning environments, through the Consortium of School Networking in August 2017.

Breitkreutz’s wife, Rachel, teaches health/physical education at Sartell High School. Their sons, Liam and Lincoln, attend Pine Meadow Elementary and their daughter, Lillian, attends Sartell Middle School.