DLPS Support Staff of the Year

The Devils Lake Public School District is proud to announce the selection of Mrs. Christi Windjue, special

education paraprofessional at Central Middle School, as the first DLPS Support Staff of the Year.

Christi Windjue received her associate in arts degree and certificate in administration assistant from

University of North Dakota – Lake Region in December 1991. She was an active member and leader on

the Sweetwater PTO and the Central Middle School PTO. Mrs. Windjue is certified as a special education

and Title I paraprofessional and has served on several school and district level team advisory

committees.

Windiue is an outstanding paraprofessional at Central Middle School. She consistently goes above

and beyond for students, staff, and our school, yet wants others to receive the praise. Christi has lived our

district mission to “nurture students by supporting their individual growth.” She truly gets to know her

students’ backgrounds, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Windjue is an expert at developing

relationships with our students and holds her students accountable while giving them the extra support

and attention they need. She often goes into her own pocket to provide our students with things

they need or an extra gift at Christmas. Christi identifies areas of need in our school and works hard to

resolve those needs. She works endlessly to make CMS a positive and welcoming place for students and

staff by decorating our school with upbeat posters, hallway decorations and transforming the front entry.

She is extremely supportive of the teachers she works with daily. Christi is also a certified substitute

teacher and fills in when needed. She has excellent content knowledge for all subject areas and great

classroom management.

Mrs. Windjue comes to work every day with a positive attitude and strong work ethic, willing to do whatever she can for student success. Mrs. Windjue is highly respected by students and staff and our school would not be the same without her.

Christi is married to Dean, and they are the proud parents of five children: Joey, Emily, Jenna, Taylor, and

Brandon. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family and friends, time at the lake and

attend UND hockey.

The Devils Lake Public School Support Staff of the Year Program is sponsored by First United

Bank & Trust Company, the Devils Lake High School Student Council, and the Devils Lake Public School

District. For her selection as Support Staff of the Year. First United Bank & Trust has awarded

Mrs. Windue with $500 in Chamber Bucks and $250 in Chamber Bucks from Devils Lake Public Schools

Teacher of the Year

The Devils Lake Public School District is proud to announce the selection of Mrs. Megan Wasness

language arts teacher, grades 7-8 at Central Middle School, as the DLPS Teacher of the Year.

Megan Wasness received her Bachelor of Science degree in English education from North Dakota State

University in 2013. In December 2022, she received her master’s degree in educational leadership,

through NDSU’s Teacher Leadership Academy. She worked strenuously within this graduate program to

better herself as an educator as well as Devils Lake Public Schools. Her teaching career began at Central

Middle School teaching language arts for grades 7 and 8, where she continues to cultivate lifelong

learners.

Wasness is an exceptional and dedicated language arts teacher at Central Middle School. She is

an integral part of all areas within our school and does it all: Veterans Day program coordinator, Charity

Ball coordinator, building level technology coordinator, team leader, curriculum committee member, PLC

chair, mentor, and most importantly, a builder of future leaders of our children. She also teaches.

facilitates, and publishes our school newspaper, The CMS Press. Megan has excellent classroom

management skills and utilizes effective, data driven strategies to engage her students. Her knowledge of

the content is second to none and has a knack for relating the information to her students’ individual level.

She is truly a forward-thinking leader that ensures all students feel welcome, safe and supported in her

classroom. She is aware of the cultural differences in her classroom and meets the needs of her students

by supporting their needs and holding them to high expectations. There is not a moment that Mrs.

Wasness is not working towards something great for Central Middle School, our district, and our

community. She puts her heart and soul into everything she does. Megan is a lifelong educator and

shows up every day with a positive attitude and tremendous work ethic. Mrs. Wasness is and will continue

to be an asset to the Devils Lake Public School District.

Megan is married to Dale, and they are the proud parents of three children: Luke, 9th grade at Devils Lake

High School, Abbey, 6th grade at Central Middle School and Leyna, 2nd grade at Sweetwater Elementary.

With her selection as Teacher of the Year for the Devils Lake Public School District, Mrs. Wasness

is eligible for consideration for the 2024 North Dakota Teacher of the Year award which will be

selected in September 2023 by a state selection committee in Bismarck.

The Devils Lake Public School Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by First United Bank &

Trust Company, the Devils Lake High School Student Council, and the Devils Lake Public School District.

For her selection as Teacher of the Year First United Bank & Trust has awarded Mrs. Wasness

with a $1,500 stipend to be used for enrollment and participation in a professional workshop or

convention and $250 in Chamber Bucks from Devils Lake Public Schools

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR