District 196 is thrilled to announce the appointment of Tamiko Thomas as the district's new Area Learning Center (ALC) Coordinator. The announcement was made during the June 22 Regular School Board meeting. 

Director of Secondary Education Eric Hanson introduced Thomas to the Board and community, highlighting her extensive background. "Tamiko brings tremendous educational leadership experience. She is a strong instructional leader with a focus on continuous improvement and strategic planning. She connected very well with our students during the selection process. Her deep commitment to student success and building strong relationships aligns well with our district’s mission and student-centered values."

Thomas steps into the essential role of overseeing the Alternative Learning Center at Silver Bell Learning Center, leading a team specialized in supporting students in achieving their academic goal of earning a high school diploma. She follows Andrea Engstrom, who has carried the dual responsibility of leading Dakota Ridge School and the ALC for the last two years; she will return her focus to Dakota Ridge School full-time beginning July 1, 2026.

"I'm very excited to join the district as well as the ALC,” shared Thomas. "When I say that I’m going to District 196, 100% of the people have said, 'You're joining a great district.' I look forward to continuing that legacy. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to lead the District 196 ALC in alignment with the district’s strategic roadmap. Establishing a clear vision, strengthening enrollment and course completion systems, fostering a positive culture of belonging."

Before joining District 196, Thomas built an extensive and diverse resume in school administration and leadership. Most recently, she served as the Principal of Plymouth Middle School within Robbinsdale Area Schools. Her previous administrative experience includes associate principal at Eden Prairie High School, assistant principal in Eastern Carver County Schools, assistant principal at Monument Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, and assistant principal in Osseo Area Schools, where she served for over eight years. Earlier in her career, she developed and managed a countywide truancy intervention program serving twenty school districts, where she built cross-sector partnerships designed to remove barriers to attendance and credit completion. She also served as a McKinney-Vento liaison, supporting highly mobile students.

Additionally, Thomas has experience outside of school administration, having worked as a Coach Trainer for the BARR Center (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) to help support student success frameworks. (District 196 is implementing the BARR program for ninth grade at each of our four high schools.) Her deep well of experience and dedication will help drive the continued development of ALC programs in alignment with our Strategic Framework, with high expectations for all District 196 students.

Building relationships is the foundation of our ALC philosophy. Students who have felt alienated or unsuccessful in a traditional high school, or whose education has been interrupted, need to know that the adults at the ALC genuinely see them and are in their corner. By offering targeted credit recovery, adaptive scheduling, and varied pathways to demonstrate knowledge—such as project-based learning, portfolios, or hands-on career training—our ALC allows students to discover their strengths and new possibilities.