I am honored and excited to introduce myself as your new Superintendent and Secondary Principal. Joining the Whitepine Joint School District feels like coming home to a community that truly values every student's growth and potential.
My journey in education has been driven by a simple belief: that every student deserves a clear path to success. Over the past 25 years, I have been privileged to serve rural students in nearly every capacity imaginable–from the classroom to the sidelines to the front office. Whether teaching K-12 physical education or social studies, managing the school yearbook, or conducting SAT preparation courses, I have worn many hats in the classroom. But through it all, including my work with Smarter Balanced or my time as a National Board Certified Teacher, my focus has remained the same: providing a top-tier education that prepares students for whatever comes next–be it trades, a career, or college.
A little about what I bring to our district:
A Commitment to Learning: I am currently studying Applied Learning Science at the University of Miami. I love finding innovative ways to make learning engaging and effective.
A Focus on the Whole Student: From my experiences in high school/middle school athletics to my background as a CrossFit coach, I believe that wellness, engaging activities, and physical movement are vital to a student’s development.
A Collaborative Spirit: I am here to listen and learn alongside community members. I look forward to working closely with our families, staff, and community to keep our school district moving forward.
I am eager to meet you all at our upcoming school events. Let’s make this upcoming school year a great one for our students!
With gratitude, Amy Caessens Superintendent & Secondary Principal Whitepine Joint School District
Hey everyone — parents, students, staff, and community members!
Got someone in our District who you think is an absolute superstar? Now’s your chance to shine a light on them! ✨ Click the tab above, shoot us an email, and nominate any District employee who deserves a shoutout. Make sure to include their name and tell us why they’re so awesome!
Each month, the Board will pick one standout nominee to feature in our newsletter and on the website. It’s your chance to help celebrate the incredible people making a difference every day!
Deadline to submit: the Wednesday before our monthly Board meeting. So don’t wait—get your nominations in and let’s shine the Spotlight! 💫
End-of-Year Super Staff Spotlight
Mrs. Tessa Olson
For our final Super Staff Spotlight of the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to recognize Mrs. Tessa Olson for the incredible impact she makes every day in her first-grade classroom at Bovill Elementary.
Mrs. Olson brings creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication to everything she does. Whether she is designing engaging lessons, organizing with her collection of colorful pens, or analyzing student data to help every child succeed, she approaches her work with passion and purpose. Her students benefit from her caring nature, expressive communication, and unwavering commitment to helping them grow both academically and personally.
Mrs. Olson was nominated by a parent who shared, “Tessa is my son’s first grade teacher. She has gone above and beyond to help and accommodate him. As parents, we are extremely grateful that she has been his teacher through this time. Tessa cares deeply about her students and their success, and it shows.”
Other parents have described Mrs. Olson as a “positive role model and teacher” who “makes kids feel safe and welcome.” Those words reflect exactly what makes her such a valuable member of the Whitepine team. She creates a classroom where students feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn.
Thank you, Mrs. Olson, for your dedication to the students and families of Bovill Elementary. Your creativity, compassion, and commitment make a difference every single day. Congratulations on being our End of Year 2026 Super Staff Spotlight!🎉👏🍎
PowerSchool Notice of Data Breach Impacting Whitepine Joint School District
PowerSchool has posted itsNotice of Data Breach For Individuals in the United Statesto share some important information regarding the recent cybersecurity incident involving personal information belonging to current or former students and teachers of schools and districts like Whitepine Joint SD that use, or used, software called PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS). https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/notice-of-united-states-data-breach/. The PowerSchool Notice contains important instructions regarding enrolling in two year of complimentary identity protection services through Experian.
