Joe Burk

South St. Paul Public Schools

The mission of South St. Paul Public Schools, Minnesota's First K-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools District, is to ignites a passion in every learner to inquire, continuously improve and engage in positively changing our world. The schools are the bedrock of a diverse, supportive community that provides numerous opportunities for student, family and community involvement. SSP's Packer Pride can be felt in the variety of academic, extracurricular and enrichment activities it currently provides and in its encouragement of students and staff to create new groups and opportunities that serve the unique needs of each and every learner. As an IB World Schools District, SSP provides a unique educational experience for all K-12 students rooted in a cross-disciplinary approach to learning focused on developing internationally-minded, lifelong learners. Through the IB Program, students are invited to discover for themselves that learning can be an exciting, challenging and rewarding process of exploring the world around us. The IB Learner Profile places the student at the heart of the educational experience, focusing attention on the processes and outcomes of learning and allowing for creative pathways to get there. In addition to a strong K-12 experience, SSP is committed to serving all learners, from birth through adulthood. The district offers free preschool classes at both of its elementary schools, with additional early learning and family education classes available at the district's Family Education Center. Before and after school childcare, youth enrichment and adult learning programs (including Adult Basic Education, GED and English Learner classes) are offered through the district's involvement in the TriDistrict Community Program. We honor our history and traditions while also embracing new approaches and pathways to learning. In so doing, we ensure that South St. Paul Public Schools can prepare each and every learner for their next step.