Mariner Middle School Named Gold Star Winner for Innovation

Mariner Middle School has been named a Gold Star Winner—the highest distinction—in the 2024-25 Star of Innovation Awards presented by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). The award honors schools across Minnesota for developing and supporting exemplary, innovative educational programs.

Mariner earned the top recognition for its “Building Circle” initiative, a school-wide decision-making model that invites all staff members to serve as collaborative partners in problem-solving. Providing an alternative to the traditional leadership-level Building Leadership Team, Building Circle fosters inclusive dialogue, shared ownership, and a broad range of perspectives in shaping school decisions.

“We are especially proud that our teacher leaders have been the developers and facilitators of Building Circle,” said Mariner Middle School Principal Christina Pierre. “The process is powerful -  it raises the voices of a wide range of stakeholders and allows us to address a variety of topics, such as building management, conferences and grading. As we work to develop our students’ sense of belonging and ownership, this new approach to problem-solving has done the same for our staff.”

In addition to the award, Mariner received a $250 check and will be formally recognized at the MASSP Summer Conference later this year.