1.  Enhanced Academic Performance

The Discovery Public School of Faribault continues to offer a service to a number of students in the Faribault area.  Many students are behind academically or have not been successful in a traditional classroom setting.  The Discovery Public School of Faribault offers these students a safe place to learn and fosters growth into continuing education and the workforce.

The Discovery Public School of Faribault will make calls to the home for any student that is absent without prior notification.  The school also makes the same telephone call to notify members of social services and corrections should they be involved with that student’s life.

The Discovery Public School of Faribault is able to build better relations with parents through daily communications including planner pages, telephone calls, conferences, etc.

The Discovery Public School of Faribault offers classes that focus on computer skills, resume building, filling out applications, the interviewing process, etc.  Our school has fifteen computers to offer for classroom activities. 

As a result of moving, the school board and staff have had to look for different avenues to achieve the goals of the school.  The additional expense of moving has made it almost impossible to provide the students with what they have been experiencing in the past.  Support for the school has been coming from a number of sources throughout the community.  We are very appreciative of all that we have received, but it is our hope to restore the school to the fullest potential and provide a quality education for those students that need it the most.  As a school, we are looking for additional funding for the following areas.  Any help that we receive will allow the school to function for this school year and continue into the future.  Without support, the future of the school is based upon drastic cuts to program and facilities.  We cannot continue to operate without the support of local agencies.  As all of the changes have taken place with our school over the past year, the one constant has been that the school is focused on caring for the children.  The needs, health, and safety, of the children are the focal points of the Discovery Public School of Faribault’s educational philosophy.
Please feel free to contact the school with any questions or concerns!  We would like to thank you for celebrating our Grand Opening with us, and we would also like to extend an open invitation to come back and visit our school again. 

The school has a goal of 10 employees and 50-75 students by the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Currently the school has approximately 50 students.

Steve will answer this question soon.

Jessica Green is our Business manager. She works with staff, students and parents to make the school work. Contact her via email at: jgreen@isd4081.org

Jim Severson is our director and a health and PE teacher as well as vice chair of the school board. You can send him email at: chanson@isd4081.org

Sam Macklay, a.k.a. "Mr. Mack", Instructor I graduated from high school in 1975 in Charleston, West Virginia. After
two years at the University of Wyoming I moved to San Diego, California with
some buddies from school. I learned to weld at the community college and
spent 12 years working in the shipyards and boatyards around the harbor. I
met the future Mrs. Macklay shortly after arriving in California and we
returned to her home state of Minnesota in 1991 to be near her parents in
their twilight years. I enrolled part-time at Minnesota State University at
Mankato while working at Corchran Metal Fabricators in Waseca. I graduated
in 1997 with a degree in secondary science education. Jan and I have been
married 25 years and have two daughters. Sky is a freshman at Luther
College in Decorah, Iowa and Sage is an eighth grader.
This is my ninth year of teaching but my first year at the Discovery
Public School. I am quite impressed with the dedicated staff here, and the
partnership with parents and community that makes this school work. In my
previous position I taught physics and chemistry to highly-motivated
students in a well-equipped laboratory. It has been a real challenge for me
to learn to reach my new students with their very different learning styles
and no laboratory. I think I've learned a lot of patience and communication
skills in the last few months (thanks to Mr. Severson"s example and
support), and we have proven that we don't need a fancy lab to learn
science. I appreciate our small class sizes and I really enjoy working with
the young people here. Learning goes on for your whole life and I will
strive to help my students improve their lot through education and
self-discipline. smacklay@isd4081.org

See the latest of what is happening in Mr. Mack's classroom here.

Dan Weisser - SS/Reading Teacher and member of the school board. His email is: dweisser@isd4081.org

Mrs. Delica Caldwel After raising my own children fulltime, then working in accounting for 8 years, I went back to college to finish my degree in Education.  I graduated with honors in 2003 and always try to go above and beyond what is required in any job I hold.  In my personal life I enjoy reading, sewing, organic gardening, crossword puzzles, dark chocolate, and photography.  Besides my husband Scott, the loves of my life are my children, Katja, 26 and Bart, 21 and my two grandchildren.  One of my strengths would be that of a good listener.

Email Jim at: jseverson@isd4081.org

Mike Vourlos is our English teacher, and a member of the school board.

Mike was born into a mixed family, his mother originally from Mexico and father from Greece, he is a unique individual. Originally from Illinois, he moved to Minnesota eight years ago. He worked in the real world for sometime before realizing that he wanted to return to schooling. He decided to enroll at Minnesota State University, Mankato where he found his passion for education.

While in college, he met his future wife, Kelly, whom he married in May 2003. After graduating from Mankato in December 2003, he was a substitute teacher in the Jordan, Shakopee, and Prior Lake school districts.

In August 2004, he was hired at Covenant Academy Charter School and has since helped make the transition to Discovery. With his birthday being October 6 (wink, wink), the day after his daughter was born. He welcomed Reina Theresa Vourlos on October 7th, 2006. Mr. Vourlos really values family and remains close friends with his 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He enjoys reading, writing, spending time with family and friends, and playing the occasional game of football or basketball. His favorite book is Into The Wild.
Email Mike at: mvourlos@isd4081.org

Emile Pederson. This is my first year teaching at Discovery Public School.  I have taught school for over 20 years, and have taught Special Education for six years prior to teaching at Discovery.  Before becoming a Special Education Teacher, I was a Math Teacher.

I live outside of Waterville with my husband of 35 years.  We have two adult children, who are both married, and one grand-daughter, who will be one-year old on January 18.  My favorite non-school activities are playing cards, reading romantic or suspense novels, attending Wild hockey games, and traveling.    

Email her at: epederson@isd4081.org

Steve Darkow, Instructor in math and earth science. His email is: sdarkow@isd4081.org

Alec Irwin is the webmaster and technical support guy. Contact him via email here: airwin@isd4081.org