This week's CHPS Update includes information about the Local 710 Teacher of the Year, CHHS students qualifying for State Speech, the Hylander Boys Volleyball Inaugural Season Celebration, Elementary Track & Field days, and more!

Jennifer Cahill, Kindergarten Teacher at Valley View Elementary, has been named the CHPS Local 710's Teacher of the Year! Jennifer has been a Hylander for 25 years, starting at CHPS in 2000!

This week, Local 710 President Daniel Honigs went to Valley View to tell Jennifer she is the 2025 Teacher of the Year and celebrated with many of her VV coworkers before school started! The Local 710 will be hosting a reception for her later this month!

Congratulations Jennifer!

This week's CHPS Update includes information about National Assistant Principal Week, the Hylander Boys Volleyball Inaugural Season Celebration, New CA Principal, Calendar Reminders, and more!

This week's CHPS Update includes information about School Library Month, the Hylander Boys Volleyball Inaugural Season celebration, information about Spring Sports, and more!

Columbia Heights Public Schools (CHPS) announces Leslee Sherk as the next Columbia Academy (CA) middle school principal, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Duane Berkas, current principal at CA, recently announced his retirement for the end of this school year after many years of service to the district. 

Sherk began her career at Highland Elementary School in 1999 as a 2nd Grade Teacher. After working for a few years in St. Anthony-New Brighton, she began teaching again at Valley View Elementary in 2009. Sherk has been with CHPS for sixteen years and has worked in a variety of roles around the district, including teacher, Peer Reviewer, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal and now Principal.   

“I am incredibly excited to step into the role of principal at Columbia Academy, a place that has been home to me for many years,” stated Sherk. “Having served as assistant principal here for seven years and in the district for even longer, I have developed deep relationships with our students, families and staff. I love this community! I know the challenges we face, but I also know the incredible potential we have to overcome them. Columbia Academy has always been a place of hard work, dedication and resilience. I’m committed to staying here because I’m invested in this community and I know we have what it takes to achieve great things together for our students.”