John Etnier

John Etnier has been an educator for over 30 years as an elementary teacher, coach, and elementary principal.  He earned both his BS and MS in elementary education at St. Cloud State University.  He earned his Sixth Year Certificate in elementary adminstration and Mankato State University.  Both of these colleges are located in Minnesota where John and his family reside.

As a principal, John was instrumental in developing a character education program in his school based on the writings of Dr. Michel Borba and Dr. Thomas Lickona as well as several initiatives aimed at raising the levels of achievement of students not at or above grade level.  As an avid reader of authors who write about organizational development and systems thinking, John sought to build a collaborative learning community with the students, teachers, and parents of his school.

Currently listed as "retired," John seeks to keep playing an active role in the world of education.  He recently served as an intermim assistant principal in a grades 4-8 arts magnet school, reserve teaches in two school districts, and contributes to the work of the National Urban Alliance as a mentor.

As a young boy, John's father taught him that all campers must ". . . leave a campsite as good or better than it was found."  Decades later, as an educator and citizen, John seeks to follow that teaching by leaving our world as good or better place than which it was found for the next generations.

John Etnier
soccerets@yahoo.com