Mr. Elroy Burkle was recognized for his decades of humble service in public K-12 education in North Dakota at the NDCEL conference last week. Mr. Burkle joined our Killdeer High School staff last year as an Ag teacher and has been a wonderful member of our Killdeer community. Here is more information about the award he received. Congratulations, Mr. Burkle!
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"We have one more award to give away. Since we weren’t able to get together live last year, we were unable to award our 2020 NDCEL Special Service Award winner. But this person is so near and dear to all of our hearts that we decided we needed to bring him here today to publicly honor him.
The NDCEL Rae Ann Kelsch Special Service Award is presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to education in North Dakota through time and expertise, and whose impact has had a profound statewide benefit.
All other awards are given by affiliate organizations are career path driven. This award is different. NDCEL is focused on the whole state, as was the namesake that this award carries – Rae Ann Kelsch (former House Education Chair and then later Government Affairs Specialist for NDCEL). This year, this award goes to an individual who was nominated by a peer that had this to say in their nomination:
Elroy Burkle has spent decades as a humble servant in public K-12 education & school administration in several rural North Dakota school districts. Upon his retirement he assumed the role of Executive Director of the North Dakota Small Organized Schools organization. In this role he was a staunch advocate for students and the rural schools serving them, spending countless hours supporting and lobbying for them as NDSOS director. Partnering right beside NDCEL, he elevated the stature of our smaller schools in North Dakota and helped them be heard and supported at the capital. He has since retired from his role with NDSOS, but his service didn’t stop there. Upon arriving at his new home in Kildeer North Dakota, he returned to his roots again taking on a teaching role – but keeping his eye on his fellow administrators, reached out to many of us over the past year to see how we were holding up and to offer his support. Now – we’ve seen the pictures of his house where he can settle down and enjoy what relaxation life has to offer. But before we do that, Elroy we want you to know how much you have contributed to North Dakota – and we thank you very much for all you’ve done. Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2020 NDCEL Rae Ann Kelsch Outstanding Special Service Award goes to Elroy Burkle."
