Three new hires announced for Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools

Abdulla Gaafarelkhalifa, St. Cloud Times
·2 min read

SAUK RAPIDS — Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools ISD 47 announced three new key hires for their school district.

Laura Arndt will become principal of Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School. Arndt is a Sauk Rapid-Rice alumna and says she is honored to return to Sauk Rapids-Rice as an educator and administrator.

Arndt held several positions in Sartell-St. Stephen public schools since 2015, including principal of Sartell Middle School. She also worked as a teacher from 2003 to 2010 before becoming an elementary literacy facilitator from 2010 to 2015.

Laura Arndt
Laura Arndt

The school board also approved the hiring of Adam Johnson as the interim Sauk Rapids-Rice High School assistant principal. Johnson served as a technology education teacher at the high school 2013 to 2022 and as technology department chair. He also served as coach for both the district VEX Robotics team and assistant coach of varsity track and field high jump since 2013.

He is a teacher on special assignment as an academic dean at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School.

Industrial technology teacher Adam Johnson works with students in his robotic class Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Johnson has been nominated for the 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
Industrial technology teacher Adam Johnson works with students in his robotic class Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Johnson has been nominated for the 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

The board also approved the hiring of Jason Allen as the Storm boys basketball head coach. Allen played college basketball at St. Cloud State University and was a member of the 2003 North Central Conference Championship team. He served as head coach for the boys basketball team in Apollo High School in St. Cloud.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Allen to Sauk Rapids-Rice as the next head coach of the Storm boys basketball program,” SRRHS Interim Activities Director Phillip Klaphake said.  “Throughout the interview process, a number of characteristics shone brightly: his desire to support Storm basketball at all levels, his ability to motivate those that he coaches and serves, his drive for consistent growth as a coach, and his love and knowledge of the game of basketball.  I am eager for Coach Allen to get to know the Storm basketball community!”

Apollo basketball coach Jason Allen runs players through drills during practice Thursday, Dec. 20, at Apollo High School.
Apollo basketball coach Jason Allen runs players through drills during practice Thursday, Dec. 20, at Apollo High School.

Arndt and Johnson will start July 1. Allen's start date has not been disclosed yet.

Abdulla Gaafarelkhalifa is the education reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach him agaafarelkhalifa@stcloudtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @AbdullaGaafare1

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Key new hires announced for Sauk Rapids-Rice public schools