NDCA announces new Board appointment of Kierstin Hurtt
*High resolution photo available upon request.
BISMARCK, ND - North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) announces the addition of Kierstin Hurtt of Hoople to its board of directors, representing Region 4 — the northeast corner of the state. Recently appointed by Governor Armstrong, Kierstin will serve a five-year term, ending July 2030.
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NDCA's Board consists of nine members — one from each of the state's 8 Regions and one member-at-large — all appointed by the Governor to serve five-year terms. Visit NDCA's Board of Directors webpage for additional information about each Board member and the region they represent.
Biography:
Kierstin Hurtt is the school superintendent for the Valley-Edinburg School District #118, serving the North Dakota communities of Hoople, Crystal, Edinburg, Gardar, and Mountain. Graduating from Concordia College in 2009, she began her career in education at Park River Area School as a junior high and high school English teacher. During her time spent teaching, Kierstin enjoyed coaching speech and directing the school’s one-act play. She earned her Master’s in Education from Minot State University where she spent extensive time working under the Northern Plains Writing Project, learning how to enrich her classroom through engaging in writing, reading, and pedagogical work.
In 2019, Kierstin began working on Educational Leadership coursework through Concordia Saint Paul and later took the position of Middle School Principal at Valley-Edinburg School District. In 2021, she completed her Ed.OL coursework through North Dakota State University and became Valley-Edinburg’s school superintendent.
Kierstin’s greatest interest is rural community development, celebrating what small communities in North Dakota have to offer and making sure rural communities are desirable places to live. As an educator, she has helped strengthen her district’s ability to serve working families by co-founding Lil’ Spuds Childcare in 2019 and supporting the launch of Valley-Edinburg’s Extended School Program in 2021, which provides expanded learning opportunities for students.
In 2022, Kierstin helped establish the Hoople Beautification Committee, a community club committed to completing annual beautification fundraising and projects. For example, the committee recently helped with Tator Town Day, an all-day event that included street decor, a parade, games, hay rides, a vendor fair, and live music. This work has brought a mix of cultural traditions, local art, unique enhancements, and small-town pride to her rural North Dakota community.
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Region 4 Counties served (figures taken from 2020 census): Pembina County, population 6,844; Walsh County, population 10,563; Nelson County, population 3,015; Grand Forks County, population 73,170
North Dakota Council on the Arts is the state agency responsible for the support, development, and preservation of the arts throughout North Dakota and is funded by the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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For More Information Contact:
Rhea Beto | 701.328.7594 | rbeto@nd.gov
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