Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

Nashwauk-Keewatin School District has gone through several administrative changes this year and in previous years. No doubt everyone who is involved with or cares about the district is hoping for consistency in leadership. Being part of the NK team is something I look forward to and plan on working with the students, staff, families, and community for the long term. As the new Superintendent/Elementary Principal for the Nashwauk-Keewatin School District, I would like to introduce myself. 

Originally, I am from Belcourt, ND and am an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. My husband, John, is from Nett Lake and is a special education teacher at Mountain Iron-Buhl. We have six children ranging from 28 to 13. Our two youngest are Ian, a 12th grader, and Hannah, an 8th grader. They both attend MIB. Patia and Savannah are attending college in Grand Forks, ND and Lawrence, KS. The two older boys, Nicholas and Alexander, are on their own living in Fargo and Minneapolis. During the pandemic, we were blessed to be foster parents to toddler siblings. Currently, we are foster parents to a 17 month old.

Education has been my passion for 26 years. My first job in education was as a para in Rosebud, SD. I have worked as a teacher with 7th-12th graders in Orr; Kindergarten in Red Lake, Title I Math in Fort Totten, ND; and a 3rd-4th Grade combination and Kindergarten in Nett Lake. My first principal position was at the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School in Cloquet and then, at Vandyke Elementary in Coleraine. I have been the Superintendent/Principal at Nett Lake. Most recently, I was the Superintendent/Principal for the last six years at Floodwood. For one year, I worked for MDE as the Regional Center of Excellence out of the Northeast Service Cooperative.

We are going to have a fabulous year of learning together. I am always available and if you need to get in touch with me, please email me at rvillebrun@isd319.org or call my cell phone at (701) 278-1599. I will do my best to return messages within 24 hours.

Dr. Villebrun