Andy Forbort

Dad of two amazing kids, Lifelong Learner. MSHSL basketball official & Assistant Principal.

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Coffee with the Custodian---> https://t.co/2MOHWbq0E1

[GR Baseball @RapidsBaseball]

CONGRATULATIONS to our own Joe Dick on being named to the 2026 All-State Tournament Team!!

[Minnesota State High School League @MSHSL]

Congratulations to the 2026 @TruStoneFCU Class AAA Baseball All-Tournament Team!

[Minnesota State High School League @MSHSL]

Mahtomedi 2, Grand Rapids 1 (8 Innings)

[GR Activities @GRactivities]

After multiple medals in the state tournament, Brenden now holds the school record in the 800,1600, 3200, and 4x 400. He had state tournament appearances all three seasons of his senior year going in x-country, basketball and track. He’s also a great person. Thunderhawk Proud!

[GR Activities @GRactivities]

Brenden Sylvester finishes fourth at the state tournament in the 1600 with his personal best and setting the new school record.

[GR Activities @GRactivities]

Lainie Jackson ran her personal best in the 1600 meter run and finished 9th in the state tournament. That makes two podium finishes at state in the 1600 and 3200. Way to go!

[GR Activities @GRactivities]

The brackets are out.

[GR Baseball @RapidsBaseball]

State AAA Seeds
1 Totino Grace
2 Mahtomedi
3 Mankato West
4 Delano
5 St. Thomas
6 Northfield
7 Grand Rapids
8 Rocori

[Minnesota State High School League @MSHSL]

🏆 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗦 🏆

St. Francis finishes the season 18-9 and wins its first Girls Softball state title!

[NSPN - Minnesota @NSPNminnesota]

CROWN THEM! 👑

St. Francis wins the Class 3A state softball championship!

Watch the full game here ➡️ https://t.co/R2t9PKf8Yv

[Minnesota State High School League @MSHSL]

St. Francis wins the Class AAA Girls Softball state championship!

[Todd Whitaker @ToddWhitaker]

Being positive.

[GR Activities @GRactivities]

Congratulations to Coach Spahn on being selected as the MN Coach of the Year in 4AAAA Football. This was on top of the same awards he received from the District and 7AA Coach of the Year.

[Danny Steele @SteeleThoughts]

To the Student Who’s Discouraged,

Somewhere in your classroom sits a discouraged student.

You can see it in their eyes when they get their paper back… in the way their shoulders drop when they see the grade.

They tried. Maybe not perfectly. Maybe not visibly. But they tried.

What we don’t always see is what came before that moment—what happened at home, the lack of sleep, the stress they’re carrying.

We just see the grade. And sometimes… that grade becomes the story.

But it’s not the whole story.

That student may have never made the honor roll—but they may have worked harder for that “C” than someone else worked for an “A.”

They may be kind in ways we don’t measure.

They may show up every day, doing the right thing, without recognition.

None of that shows up in the gradebook.

And yet—it matters.

Some students are discouraged not because they don’t care… but because they do.

They’re tired of feeling like they don’t measure up.
Tired of being compared.
Tired of trying in ways that don’t seem to count.

Others are disengaged because they don’t see themselves in the work.
Their strengths aren’t on the test. Their passions aren’t on the syllabus.

But that doesn’t mean they lack ability.
It means we haven’t found the right way to tap into it—yet.

A grade is a snapshot.

It is not a verdict.

It does not define a student’s worth, their intelligence, or their future.

Long after students leave our classrooms, no one will care about a single test score.

But they will care how they treat others, how they work, and how they persevere.

That’s why our role matters so much.

Because we get to decide whether that discouraged student feels seen… or overlooked.

Whether they feel labeled… or believed in.

We may not be able to change every grade.

But we can always change a student’s sense of hope.

So let’s remind them:
“I see you.”
“I know you’re trying.”
“I believe in you.”
“You’re going to be okay.”

Because they are.

They have gifts we haven’t discovered yet. They have potential we haven’t measured yet.

And they need someone in their corner while they figure it out.

Albert Einstein said, “If you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid.”

Maybe our job isn’t to keep handing out trees to climb.

Maybe it’s to help every student find the water—and remind them they were made to swim.

Rock on,

Danny Steele

P.S. I’d Love to Support You!

If you’re working to build a stronger culture for your staff and students, this is the work I care deeply about—and I’d love to partner with you.

Here are a few ways I can help:

Speaking to Your Staff - Encouraging and equipping educators to stay inspired and focused on what matters most

Leadership Retreats - Creating space for your team to reflect, align, and move forward with purpose

Coaching for Principals - Walking alongside school leaders as they navigate the challenges of the job

If that would be helpful, please feel free to reach out!

[Charlie Yaeger @ShotOfYaegerIV]

"We're just having so much fun together"

Grand Rapids Boys' Basketball plans to continue the fun at the Class AAA State Tournament vs DeLaSalle next Wednesday.

It's @GRBOYSBBALL first state appearance since 2017 and their 14th overall. @GRactivities