Leadership
Dr. Alicia Fischer is excited to begin her second year as Principal at Chaska Middle School West. For 24 years, she has dedicated her professional life to working with students, families, and staff to create positive outcomes for young people. Principal Fischer has served in several educational roles: high school teacher, student counsel advisor, softball coach, instructional coach, assistant principal, and lead principal for four years in St. Cloud Area Schools.
Principal Fischer is a self-directed and passionate school leader who inspires faculty and staff to create safe, caring, and academically rigorous environments that prepare students for success. She believes in setting high expectations and providing the necessary academic, social-emotional, and family supports to ensure that every student is engaged, educated, and included.
Principal Fischer’s Core Beliefs:
- Relationships are everything. This begins with creating a welcoming school environment that prioritizes communication, encourages authentic connection, and builds on the strengths and dreams of teachers and students.
- All students can learn and excel academically. This begins by developing strong partnerships with families, students, communities, teachers, and staff through positive relationships.
- Schools need a culture of learning and continuous improvement. This includes planning building-wide and district-wide professional development opportunities for teachers and analyzing student achievement data to design plans for improvement
These outcomes are achieved through high expectations and high support for all. West's talented staff works tirelessly to bring the school district’s mission to life. Please follow Principal Fischer on Instagram @cmswprincipal. She enjoys using social media as a way to connect with stakeholders.
This will be Mark Shoquist’s 11th consecutive year as assistant principal at Chaska Middle School West, but the second time he has worked here. Mark first came to the district and Chaska Middle School West in 1999 when he was the administrative dean/athletic director with Chaska Middle School West when it was an eighth- and ninth-grade building.
Other ECCS positions/buildings that he has worked at in the District include assistant principal/academics at Chanhassen High School, and principal/assistant principal at Pioneer Ridge when it was the Freshmen Center.
Mr. Shoquist has a strong teaching and administrative history that has always been student-centered. He cares deeply about what is best for students – individually and as a whole student community. Mark loves his job, the staff he works with and especially the opportunity to help educate and improve the lives of our students.
Feel free to contact him as his door is always open!
Sam Blank
Administrative Dean
BlankS@District112.org
952-556-7412
Sam is entering his second year in the CMSW community, continuing to work with staff, students and families to build on the tradition of success at West. He comes to District 112 with experience as an elementary school teacher and a Student Support Specialist in the Wayzata School District.
His goal this year is to work diligently towards helping students and families reach their highest potential. He believes that this goal is accomplished by working together in partnership to ensure that all students, families and staff are seen, valued, and heard. He believes that all students can and will learn when the school climate and culture is welcoming, safe, and inspiring.
At CMSW, we use Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to create this environment school-wide. Our PBIS framework is based on students showing PRIDE at school. We will teach our students to always be Prepared, Respectful, full of Integrity, Dependable, and Excellent in all that they do. By showing PRIDE at school, our students will realize their immeasurable potential and it will help us set a standard of academic and personal success that will allow them to achieve their hopes and dreams.
Please reach out to Sam if there is anything that he can do to help enhance the experience at CMSW, or if you have any questions or concerns during the 2023-24 school year.