Schoolcraft Learning Community receives award for employee spouse support

Schoolcraft Learning Community received the Recognition of Spouse Employers Award for providing support to someone serving in the military.

The R.O.S.E. Award recognizes employers who have provided exceptional support for the men and women who serve in the Army National Guard and the Reserves. The winners were chosen from a pool of more than 300 nominations.

Scott Anderson, SLC director, said the charter school was nominated based on its support of staff member Michele Olson, whose husband had been on several tours of duty with the Minnesota National Guard. When Olson's husband was called to serve two months of training in Kansas, SLC stepped in to help.

"The family was making long trips every weekend," Anderson said. "She was trying to spend more time with him, but it was getting expensive."

Teachers and staff at SLC donated a few of their own personal leave hours to Olson, Anderson said.

"They didn't skip a beat - they all passed around the hat," he said.

In February, a representative from SLC will attend a dinner with Gov. Tim Pawlenty held in honor of the R.O.S.E. Award recipients. Five businesses will be selected to $500 award.