Students tip officers through texting

School resource officers in Fargo have learned to speak their students' language through texting.

A year and a half ago, all Fargo high school and middle schools started using the "Text-a-Tip" program, which encourage students to tip off SROs to criminal activity through texting. It's working so well that other schools are looking to Fargo to start similar programs, said Fargo South High School SRO Chris Potter.

"It's been very successful," Potter said, adding that he's been receiving almost a dozen texts from students a week lately - up from the usual three or four texts a week.

Potter wrote an article about the program in a recent issue of the national "Journal of School Safety."

Now he's receiving requests from schools across the country - from Grand Forks to Orange County, Calif. - asking how they can start similar programs.

"(Students) text more than they talk," Potter said. "They're so comfortable with that."

W.F. teachers honored

Two West Fargo staff members were recently honored by the North Dakota Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at its annual conference in Bismarck.

Eastwood Elementary Principal Jeff Johnson received the 2008 Administrator of the Year award given to administrators who show continued support for heath and physical education programs. Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center teacher Deb Uetz received the 2007 K-12 Health Education Teacher of the Year Award.

Thank you, teacher

Now is the time to nominate your favorite Minnesota educator for Teacher of the Year. Education Minnesota, the state's teachers union, is accepting nominations through Nov. 17.

Nominations can be submitted online to www.educationminnesota.org .

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year, who will also become the state's candidate for National Teacher of the Year, must:

- Teach in a pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classroom.

- Hold at least a bachelor's degree and a Minnesota teaching license.

- Have completed at least three full years of teaching.

- Intend to teach during the 2009-10 school year.

Anyone can nominate a teacher, and self-nominations are accepted. For more information, call Chris Carlin at (800) 652-9073.

Hail the royal couple

Cole Crabtree and Amanda Noyes were crowned Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton homecoming king and queen.

Other members of the homecoming court are: Chris Johnk, Tayler Yliniemi, Taylor Peterson, Cody Bergee, Ethan Mjolsness, Heath Knapper, Marc Anderson, Sydney Johnk, Jordan Harm, Sarah Hofer, Sarah Strong, Breanne Tollefson, Nicole Schwanke and Hannah Greene.

The D-G-F homecoming football game is at 7 tonight at the Glyndon Athletics Complex. The Rebels are hosting the West Central Area Knights.

Readers can reach Forum reporters Kelly Smith at (701) 241-5515 and Mila Koumpilova at (701) 241-5524