SchoolTalk

South High School Assistant Principal and Activities Coordinator Mike Beaton has been named the Fargo Public Schools 2025 Administrator of the Year. FPS Associate Superintendent Dr. Robert Grosz made the announcement today as a surprise at an all-school assembly at South.

A 1989 graduate of South High School, Beaton has spent his entire professional career with Fargo Public Schools. He began in 1996 as a math teacher at then-Ben Franklin Junior High School, teaching algebra, intro to algebra, and geometry. He was an assistant principal at Discovery Middle School from 2003-2014 and has been an assistant principal at South since 2014. During his time at Ben Franklin, he was an assistant hockey coach at North High School.

Beaton is described by his nominators as a champion and advocate of every student and staff member at South High School who strives to give the students of South an experience that will assist them to grow and have bright, successful futures. Many individuals used the phrase “above and beyond” to describe his dedication to assisting those around him even when it means putting his own tasks aside. He seeks out opportunities to help and support every individual at South, from giving directions to a lost student, to helping new staff members get comfortable, to supporting athletic coaches anytime an issue arises.

Beaton was repeatedly described as seeming able to be in more than one place at a time. He is often the first administrator to arrive at the school and is almost always the last to leave, staying late to ensure every event runs smoothly. He is seen working every day of the year, including weekends, holidays, and during the summer months and is always available to answer calls and texts at all hours of the day and night. He doesn’t think twice about offering to come back to the school to help advisors, students, and staff who need assistance.

Throughout the day, Beaton can be found helping a student, in the classroom assisting a teacher, answering questions from stakeholders, setting up a gym or field for a game, picking up garbage, saying hello with a smile to somebody who really needs it, laughing at jokes, supervising events, or scheduling events – and often rescheduling multiple times during a stormy winter or wet spring. His attention to detail and proactive approach ensures that every event runs smoothly, providing students with the best possible experience.

Beaton holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from Bemidji State University and a Master of Science in Education Administration from North Dakota State University. He holds a secondary principal credential and is a certified athletic administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

Beaton follows Davies High School Principal Troy Cody as the District’s recipient of the Administrator of the Year honor. The Fargo Public Schools Administrator of the Year award has been presented within the District for 12 years. The honor is regularly bestowed as part of the District’s annual Staff Recognition Program. The District also annually recognizes a Teacher of the Year and a Support Staff of the Year.

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Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000