MASB Master Platinum and Advocacy Skills Awards

Nels Christopherson, CCISD Board Secretary, was presented with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) Master Platinum Award, as well as the Advocacy Skills Specialty Award, as part of the MASB’s Board Member Awards program.

The Awards Program, with basic certification as its cornerstone, was developed in 1990 with input from both veteran Michigan school board members and representatives from higher education and state administrator organizations.   Its goal is to enhance the ability of school boards to improve Michigan public schools and the achievement of 1.6 million Michigan students.  Board members receive credit through completion of Certified Board Award (CBA) classes, attendance at MASB conferences and through service as an officer on a board.  There are seven levels in the program.

The Master Platinum Award is the sixth level of the program and is given to board members who completed levels one through five, with a total of 19 advanced level classes and a minimum of 813 education credits. 

The Advocacy Skills Specialty Award is a prestigious award presented to board members who have completed requirements for the first level of the awards program and specific additional CBA classes focused on advanced community relations, media relations, public speaking, risk communication, focusing on feedback, shaping public opinion, spokesperson training and advocacy for public education.   


Pictured above:  Nels Christopherson, MASB Master Platinum and Advocacy Skills Specialty Awards Recipient.

 Student Leadership Award: Karena LaTendresse

 Karena LaTendresse is the daughter of Dan and Lorraine LaTendresse of Chassell and is a senior at Chassell Schools.  She is actively involved in the Health Careers/Nursing Assistant program at the ISD and the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), currently serving as HOSA President.  Karena is a straight A student with a cheerful and positive disposition.  She is self-motivated and consistently exceeds expectations in the classroom, in the HOSA chapter and in the clinical setting.  She has been involved in several community service projects with HOSA this year.  She visited the elderly at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility and in the community during the holidays.  She has become certified by Marquette General Hospital to work at area blood drives taking vital signs.  She helped to organize the Region IX HOSA leadership conference at Finlandia University, where students participated in team building and leadership activities.  Karena received a gold medal in Prepared Speaking at the UP- wide HOSA Regional competition in Escanaba in February, and will compete against the best in the State in Traverse City.

Karena serves on the student council at Chassell, is Senior class president, a member of the National Honor Society and has played basketball since the 5^th grade, having been named defensive player of the year in 2011 and to the conference defensive team in 2010-2011.  She is also active in 4-H and has sold award winning steers at the Houghton County and UP State Fairs.

Karena plans to attend Finlandia University in the fall to major in nursing and has earned articulated credit in Medical Terminology and Professional Rescuer Training.  She plans to take her certification exam this spring and work as a Certified Nursing Assistant while she attends college.


Pictured from left to right:  Nels Christopherson, CCISD Board Secretary; and Karena LaTendresse, Student Leadership Award Recipient.

Outstanding Education Employee Award:  Carla Strome

Carla Strome has served as the Social Studies Consultant and School Improvement Facilitator for the Copper Country ISD since 2001.  In this position, she has provided teachers and administrators with excellent professional development and support in the areas of school improvement, new teacher mentoring, literacy, state and federal mandates, content standards, integrating technology into the curriculum, social studies, English language arts, service learning and innovative instructional and assessment strategies.  Carla is the model of an exemplary educator; she always conducts herself in the most professional and effective manner in any project she takes on.  Before Carla took the position at the CCISD, she was a teacher at the E.B. Holman School for ten years, where she taught a variety of subjects and grades.  In this position, her colleagues recognized her work through the Michigan Education Association Teacher of the Year Award in 1993 and 1999.

Pictured from left to right:  Robert Roy, CCISD Board Treasurer, and Carla Strome, Outstanding Education Employee Award Recipient.

School Service Award:  Simple Kindness for Youth (SKY)

The concept of SKY was developed in 2009-2010 as a grassroots effort to help area youth build self esteem by helping them access basic needs and activities not covered by the schools or other agencies.  By 2010, SKY obtained official nonprofit status, established a Board of Directors and a website, and expanded their group of committed volunteers.  Their board consists of CCISD and area-wide educators.  They are now set up to take contributions to be used for SKY Mini-Grant awards for area youth.  Some of the mini-grant awards have provided winter coats, books, a cap and gown for graduation and the fee for Driver’s Education.

SKY members have sponsored numerous fund raising events, including pancake breakfasts and a very popular Reach for the SKY Talent Show, featuring area youth.


Pictured from left to right: Karen Johnson, CCISD Board Trustee; and SKY Board Members Lynnette Borree, Risa Williamson, Kathy Flagstadt, Sue O’Connell and Janette Polkinghorn.   


Pictured from left to right: Carla Strome, Karena LaTendresse, Sue O’Connell, Risa Williamson, Kathy Flagstadt and Janette Polkinghorn.

Copper Country Leadership Award:  Art Simila

The 2010 Copper Country Education Leadership Award was presented to Art Simila, a former member of both the Copper Country ISD and CLK Public Schools Boards of Education.  Art was the first Keweenaw County representative on the CCISD Board in 1965, and in over 26 years of service held the offices of Trustee, Treasurer, Vice-President and President.  His efforts were instrumental in the construction and opening of the former Mohawk Elementary School and in the establishment of center based special education programs at the Copper Country Learning Center in Hancock. 

CCISD Board President Albert Koskela spoke to the crowd about Art’s extensive service to local education.

Art was unable to attend to accept the award; however, it was presented to him on May 11^th at the Copper Country ISD offices.

Pictured from left to right: Robert Loukus, CLK School Board Member; Art Simila, Copper Country Education Leadership Award Recipient; and Albert Koskela, Copper Country ISD Board President.