Photo by Wanda Hanson
“It’s not a ‘me’ award – it’s a school that earned an award!” were the first words out of Rushford-Peterson’s MSHS Principal Jake Timm’s mouth when he was asked about his award. Timm humbly explained that the great school and students make him look good!
Timm found out about the award March 26; the notification was sent to MASSP (Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals) members the following week. MASSP is divided into eight regions across the state. The 144 members of the SE MASSP region selected Jake Timm as their principal of the year.
From the principals selected from the eight regions, a final principal of the year for the entire state will be chosen and announced in December; this principal will go on to represent Minnesota nationally.
Timm has been at Rushford-Peterson for 13 years. Before becoming a principal, Timm was a SPED teacher and then a SPED coordinator. He had visited a former teacher in his SPED classroom while he was in college and decided then that teaching SPED was the career for him. Becoming an administrator allowed Timm to help even more kids.
In his nomination for the award, Timm was recognized for providing “personalized opportunities” for all R-P students. One example of this is the Junior Job Shadow that all juniors participate in. At the end of sophomore year, students fill out forms detailing careers they would like to explore. Timm lines up careers for each student to visit for a ½ or full day.
R-P values CTE (Career and Technical Education) classes; it is the only small school in the area that offers classes in all four CTE areas. In addition, the Build My Future experience gives all juniors a chance to do hands-on CTE projects.
R-P also offers 48 college credits in its concurrent classes. These classes include college algebra, intro to statistics, pre-calculus, college writing I, intro to literature, intro to public speaking, survey of chemistry, human nutrition, anatomy and physiology I and II, intro to sociology, college physics I and II and survey of music. Both high school and college credits are earned by students taking these classes.
When students are considering doing PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Options), Mr. Timm makes sure they are aware of all the concurrent classes that are available at R-P. Usually the students can take concurrent classes and stay at R-P with familiar teachers while still earning college credits as well.
Timm stressed that his goal is to have classes for all students whether they are interested in CTE or a four-year college degree.
Timm is known for collaborating with other area administrators. Bluff Country Cooperative was established by Jake Timm (R-P), Mary Morem (Caledonia), Todd Lundgren (Houston) and Steve Smith (LaCrescent-Hokah). According to Timm, principals and small schools have to collaborate and help each other.
When asked what he enjoys most about being a principal, Timm quickly replied, “The kids – interacting with kids and staff! Forming relationships with people! You might be the only person they connect with.” He reminds teachers that they might not see the fruits of their labors until much later.
Timm’s goal for the future is to continue to make R-P a good place with quality education. Quoting one of former R-P teacher Mitch Thompson’s favorite saying, “Be a good person!” Timm said he hopes to turn out the best possible people who will be productive members of society.
Advice for new principals from Jake TImm is: “It’s a labor of love, long days and long nights, but the impact you can make on kids is amazing!” He reminds himself and other principals to always remember that you are the principal.
Jake Timm enjoys being a principal at R-P, “It’s like a big family! In this small town, K-12 school, everybody looks out for everybody!” A clear example of this was when Superintendent Ben Bernard bought everyone on staff donuts to celebrate Jake Timm and his becoming the SE MASSP high school principal of the year!
Dr. Bernard commented, “Being nominated and chosen by his peers for this award is a great honor for Mr. Timm. The Rushford-Peterson community applauds him and thanks him for his work at R-P.”
Congratulations, Mr. Timm!
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