Worke named as principal at ‘Awesome Blossom’ high school

It has always been about educating students for John Worke.
On July 1, Worke, the Blooming Prairie activities director and facilities manager, will become the high school principal. Whether he will continue coaching the girls basketball team and performing other current duties has yet to be determined.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with our teachers on student improvement, whether it is academic or behavior or whatever it may be,” said Worke, 49. “It is about working together to create the best opportunities for our kids that leave this system.”

Worke cares about all the youths and the Blooming Prairie community, School Superintendent Barry Olson said.
“John is dependable, dedicated, organized and trustworthy,” Olsonnstated via email. “He works very hard at making things better and believes in the continuous improvement model, and he has shown this in all the organizations he has been involved with for the last 25 years.”

Worke is well-respected throughout southern Minnesota, and this will allow him to be engaged and an active participant in education reform, Olson added. 
Worke has been in the school district in various roles during his career.

“When I first started thinking about education, I was dealing with kids in the summer youth programs,” he recalled. “I really enjoyed that. I have always liked athletics, so the first love was to be a physical education teacher.”
Worke said he knew the marketability wasn’t there, so he thought he could become an elementary education teacher and get his coaching certification to satisfy his desire to be involved with coaching youths.
“I would get the best of both worlds,” he said. “I could work with kids and I can also maybe fit in some athletics.” 
After seven years in doing that, Worke was laid off because of school budget cuts. He went back and got his middle school certification. The next year he was rehired at Blooming Prairie as a junior high science teacher. He has also taught social studies, math, English, careers and health.

He became the activities director in 1999, then became the school district’s facilities manager in 2009. Worke has been the assistant principal since 2011.
“Everything kind of evolved,” Worke said. “I was continually getting more responsibilities.”
As he makes the transition into his new role, his goal is to make sure everyone works together.

“I want us to be striving for the one common goal of producing the best student possible when they leave here,” he said.
As the state continues to put more emphasis on test scores, Worke said he believes the school district’s programs have been a great plus.
“I want to take a closer look at our vocational classes to see what kind of improvements can be made,” Worke said. “I want to involve the community more with that. I’m always looking to create a curriculum that fits all students.”
Communication also is key for Worke. 
“I think I have to always make sure I’m communicating with the appropriate people,” he said. “As we continue to look for new programs, I have to find ways to motivate and sell them to our teachers to get them on board. That will always be something I will look to improve at.”

As a Blooming Prairie grad, the school system and community are the only thing he has known.
“I’m proud to be a part of it,” he said. “To come back and be part of other students that leave this system is just a good feeling for me.”