Because There’s More Than One Pathway Through School

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Public Schools Focuses on Creating a Uniquely Tailored Experience for Each Student

The goal of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (LPGE) Public Schools isn’t just to see its students graduate. 

“It’s to make sure staying here, or coming back here, is a future they can genuinely see for themselves,” said Superintendent Daniel Ludvigson. 

Because sure, there are plenty of opportunities in the major metros for anyone looking to gain experience, sharpen their skills, and move up the ladder.

But those opportunities also exist here in Todd County. And LPGE wants to connect those dots. 

“That is where the school and community can be especially powerful together. We can teach the academic foundation, but our local employers can help students see where that learning can take them and that some of those opportunities are available right here at home,” he added. 

An Academic Experience That’s Uniquely Tailored for Each Student

One of the most exciting things happening for LPGE that simply wasn’t possible for students to experience a few years ago has been the introduction of the Thunder Online Academy.

Students in grades 9-12 now have the option to attend high school online, but the program includes a personalized touch.

“We provide an actual physical location with a teacher who is accessible at that location. We also offer opportunities like participation in clubs, sports, and school events that other online programs do not,” he said. 

The online learning track proved so popular that it’s quickly approaching its current 40-student capacity. School administrators are already talking about what responsible future growth might look like to allow more to participate. 

For Superintendent Ludvigson, it also reflects a much broader idea that the school’s working towards. 

“There should not be only one pathway through school,” he said. “Students have different needs, strengths, circumstances, and goals. Our responsibility is to create strong options while maintaining high expectations.”

Making the Transition After High School Less of a Leap

In addition to online learning, LPGE has also expanded the number of different pathways students can follow while they are still in high school. 

“We increasingly think about preparation after graduation as more than choosing between ‘college’ and ‘work,’” he said. “Students can begin doing both.”
College in the Schools allows students to build a schedule that earns them substantial college credit, and in some cases an Associate of Arts degree, while still attending LPGE. 

“Through our partnership with Central Lakes College, college-level courses are offered on our campus in areas such as mathematics, Spanish, art, biology, chemistry, English, history, and economics,” he explained. 

There are also collaborations with Alexandria Technical and Community College, Central Lakes College, Perkins Consortium, and local businesses, giving students the opportunity to explore careers in the skilled trades, from engineering and welding to computer technology and robotics.  

Which creates a pipeline of skilled workers who can fill jobs in Todd County, which has twice the manufacturing presence than the Minnesota average and is also experiencing rapid growth in the utility and construction sectors. 

“A student may graduate with college credits, technical skills, an industry-related credential, and a much clearer understanding of a career they may want to pursue. Other students may use those experiences to discover that a career they thought they wanted is not the right fit, and that is valuable learning too,” he said. “For me, the goal is to make the transition after high school less of a leap.” 

Getting Insight Into Careers Before Starting One

During the Career and College Fair, students get to hear from industry pros who can speak directly about the ins and outs of a particular job, average pay, and opportunities for advancement. 

They also gain insight into what kind of degree or certification is needed, complemented by the presence of representatives from local colleges, universities, and tech schools. 

“We want students to understand that career exploration is not an abstract conversation about something they may someday do somewhere else,” he said. “There are people doing interesting and important work right here in our region.”

While attending one Career Day hosted by CentraCare Long Prairie Hospital, 40 students moved through hands-on stations walking them through CPR, starting an IV on a mannequin, and emergency medicine applications given in an ambulance and Life Link III helicopter. 

“Experiences like that capture what we want for our students,” he said. “A teenager may know that a hospital exists in town without having any idea how many different careers exist inside that building.”

Rethinking What Academic Engagement Can Look Like

The multi-dimensional academic experience at LPGE also includes the teacher-led Innovative Schools Project Grant.

Because sure, academic growth is important. But sometimes it’s just as important to build confidence, develop communication and problem-solving skills, or just helping kids feel like they belong.

In the past, the grant funded robotics and helped launch a culinary program in the high school. It’s helped enhance strength-training spaces. It can also help pay for things like backpacks, notebooks, and school apparel. 

Whatever a teacher thinks their students could benefit from. 

“Sometimes helping a student grow begins by making sure that student knows, ‘You are part of this school,’” he said. 

Positioning Long Prairie as a Place Where Students Can Build a Life

Whether it’s through the Thunder Online Academy, Innovative Schools Project Grants, or the Career Fairs, LPGE has a razor sharp focus on designing an academic pathway that carries a student from kindergarten to graduation. 

They want students to see just how big the opportunities are right at home, even in a smaller community like Todd County. 

“Our students should feel prepared to go anywhere. But they should also know what is possible here,” he said. 

And it’s a joint effort between schools, businesses, families, and communities that can make that happen. 

“The stronger those connections become, the more likely young people are to see Long Prairie not simply as the place where they grew up, but as a place where they could build a life,” he said.