International Education Day: A progressive path to education in the City of Long Prairie

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Main News Photo

The fifth International Day of Education will be celebrated on 24 January 2023 under the theme “to invest in people, prioritize education”. Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, this year’s Day will call for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and charting the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress toward all the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities, and the climate crisis.

On the occasion of International Day of Education, we spoke to Daniel Ludvigson, the new (2022/23) Superintendent of the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle school in Long Prairie.

Creating opportunities for students to grow and learn at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School 

As superintendent, Ludvigson’s responsibilities include providing district leadership, managing the budget, and representing the school to the community. His focus is on bringing the stakeholders of the community together to create opportunities for the students of the school and for the Long Prairie community.

Ludvigson believes that education helps students reach their potential and grow in a caring environment. “It helps afford all kids an opportunity to learn and grow despite their circumstances' limitations.  Children are our future and our responsibility.  Without taking care of them there is no future, at least not one I wish to be a part of.”

Some goals and aspirations for the school: Daniel Ludvigson

“At Long Prairie-Grey Eagle we want to experience higher participation in activities from all of our students.  A sense of involvement results in a sense of community, and a sense of community results in healthy and happy children.  We believe this would help decrease the high percentage of students we see on ineligibility lists and a decline in behavioral incidents.   It takes a village to raise a child and all of our students are a part of that village.  All of them have knowledge, talents, and skills to bring to the table.  We want to give them all a chance to see those unique qualities shine.”

When the City works closely with the school it benefits the community 

Ludvigson states that the City has been working closely with the school. “Until recently the city administrator, Ted Grey, was a member of our school board.  We work closely together with law enforcement to address behavior and point students down a better path.  They assist with traffic flow around the school.  We collaborate on providing activities to our youth and try to coordinate our efforts for the benefit of the community as a whole.”

The superintendent is elated at the school’s recent performance. He says, “Our school district exceeds the state average in meeting English Language Learner needs.  The elementary school implements a robust intervention system that uses positive behavior interventions and small-group interventions for all students.  The high school provides opportunities to earn an AA degree through our own accredited staff.  This earned our secondary high school the silver award. Both schools serve a diverse population with many different backgrounds.  We have family liaisons who are bilingual,  to help us communicate with all families.  Due to the hard work of our community’s Director of Education, we received both, the 21st Century Grant and Achievement and Integration dollars.  Both these provide opportunities to all of our students and additional funding for fulfilling future opportunities.    We may be a small school but we provide big opportunities.  We are Thunder Nation, United we Stand!”, Ludvigson signs off.

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle School District #2753 is a preschool through grade 12 district of about 1,000 students. The District serves the students of Long Prairie and Grey Eagle, Minnesota; as well as the surrounding areas.

Category: News

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