North Dakota Council for Educational Leaders

History The North Dakota Council of School Administrators held its organizational meeting on January 25, 1976, at the Holiday Inn in Bismarck. Oscar Peterson, Superintendent at Mott, was nominated and elected as temporary chairman. Each of the six organizations was asked to introduce their representatives. The original representa­tives were: NDASA - Oscar Peterson and Walter Hoff; NDASSP - Emeroy Swanson and Warren Gullickson; NDAESP - Leo Schmidt and Douglas Hultberg; NDASBO - William Schneider and David Blackstead; NDAHSAD - Dick Karlgaard and Loren Faris; NDACS - Vivian Nordby and Joan Mikkula. Oscar Peterson was nominated for President for the term ending June 30, 1976. The passage of the motion to have nominations cease and instruct the secretary to cast a unanimous ballot placed Mr. Peterson at the head of an organization with six charter members. The primary purpose of the organization was to host a meeting during the time of the NDEA convention and promote better communi­cation and understanding between and among the various administra­tive groups. Warren Gullickson and Leo Schmidt completed the first slate of officers as Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, respectively. The terms of office of these original officers were approximately five months in duration; Warren Gullickson, Leo Schmidt, and Joan Mikkula occupied the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer offices for the 1976-77 term. Much credit for the eventual success of the concept of an umbrella organization for school administrators in the state of North Dakota goes to these early leaders. It was due to their hard work and belief in a concept that school administrators now enjoy a healthy and productive relationship with each other.