North Dakota
Russ Riehl is Principal of Simle Middle School in Bismarck, ND. He currently serves on the Governor's Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Department of Public Instruction's Every Student Succeeds Act Planning Committee, North Dakota Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Advisory Group, Bismarck Public Schools Mental Health Advisory Committee, Bismarck Public Schools School Safety Committee, and the Governor's Children's Cabinet. Mr. Riehl is committed to keeping children and youth in school and out of the justice system as well as providing an engaging and relevant learning experience for every student. He has done extensive work in the areas of implementing MTSS, project-based learning, and restorative justice. He is currently overseeing a behavioral health pilot program at Simle Middle School, which has seen a dramatic decrease in suspensions/expulsions, police citations, and court referrals. Mr. Riehl holds a master's degree in educational leadership from North Dakota State University and a bachelor's degree in education from Dickinson State University.