This year, BSM principal Dr. Susan Skinner has been awarded the Education Award for Leadership by the Minnesota Independent School Forum (MISF). Skinner is the first from BSM to win the Leadership MISF award, but the third BSM staff member to win an award from the MISF. 

The MISF leadership award recognizes the dedication and hard work of school presidents, principals, school heads, superintendents, and executive directors. “I think it’s designed to recognize…people who have a great passion for private education, and in my case, Catholic education and people that really work to maintain the main mission of the school and the culture of the school when it comes to excellence and making sure that students have the very best experience,” Skinner said. 

When thinking of her role as BSM Principal, Skinner thinks of supporting teachers to create the best student experience. “I think of St. John Baptist De Lasalle… the patron saint of teachers, and how he focused so much on making sure student experience was good, making sure that the student experience was excellent, and to do that it really matters how you help the teachers be better teachers. So my work is mostly focused on supporting teachers because I know that teachers have the most direct impact on the student experience. So when I think of my role as a principle I think of it as supporting the teachers to make sure they have what they need to provide students with that very, very best experience in the classroom,” Skinner said. 

Although Skinner is grateful to be recognized, she feels slightly embarrassed. “You know I appreciate the recognition, but I also know that there are so many people that are out there working so hard in Catholic schools that I felt like I said, a little embarrassed about the whole thing,” Skinner said. 

Skinner recognized that there are so many hard-working teachers during this time, and she is grateful to be a part of a Catholic school community. “[I am] especially [thankful] now when I know that our teachers are working so hard with Extended Online School, to make sure that is a good experience. I think that [in] Catholic schools and private schools, in general, it’s such a blessing to be able to work in a community like this where it’s faith-based or smaller. We can give that personalized attention to students, so I just appreciate being a part of a catholic school and especially BSM,” Skinner said.