Meet Holly Strand-Rysgaard

ACTE Health Science Education
Division Vice President
Email: strand.rysgaard@gmail.com

Holly Strand-Rysgaard
Region: III

Division: Health Science Education
Occupation: Career Academy Assistant Principal

Employment History
Assistant Principal at the Moorhead Career Academy, 2022-present; MTSS instructional Coach, West Fargo Public Schools 2021-2022; Health sciences instructor, West Fargo Public Schools: 2013–2021; polysomnography technician, North Dakota Center for Sleep: 2008–2016; health sciences instructor, Fargo Public Schools: 2010–13

Education
M.A., educational leadership, North Dakota State University; B.S., respiratory care, North Dakota State University; A.A./A.S., University of North Dakota – Williston

National ACTE Involvement
Nominating committee member: 2018–2021; ACTE’s CareerTech VISION attendee: 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022

Regional ACTE Involvement
Awards committee member: 2015–17, 2019–present; Region V Conference attendee: 2016, 2019

I serve on the Region V planning committee as committee lead for the 2023 conference that will be held in Fargo, North Dakota.

Divisional ACTE Involvement
Policy committee chair: 2017–18

State ACTE Involvement
Appointed North Dakota ACTE (NDACTE) president elect: 2020; NDACTE president: 2017–18; NDACTE president-elect: 2016–17; NDACTE vice president: 2015–16; NDACTE Health Science Education Division president: four years; NDACTE Teacher of the Year Award winner: 2018

Other CTE Involvement
HOSA Outstanding Advisor of the Year for North Dakota: 2020; National Consortium of Health Science Education (NCHSE) 100x Leader Summit participant: 2019; North Dakota CTE guest site evaluator: 2014–present; Health Science Educators Association charter member: 2018–present; Health Sciences Instructor Association president: 2014–18; North Dakota CTE Professional Development Conference presenter: 2014–present; North Dakota CTE Professional Development Conference attendee: 2013–present

I have attended many NCHSE conferences.

Platform StatementLike all of you, I have a passion for CTE. It has been part of me my entire life as my father was a career counselor. The same conferences I attend as an adult are ones I ran around the hotel at as a kid. After 10 years in the medical field as a registered respiratory therapist, I found that teaching was my calling.

As a health science instructor for the past decade, I now have the best of both worlds — between the world of medicine and preparing future health professionals through my teaching. If elected as the ACTE vice president in health science education, my mission will be simple: I will advocate for health science educators across the country and will not tire until our voices are heard.

I bring a wealth of leadership experience in ACTE and beyond to represent our division well. This position has been my goal since I first started down the path of ACTE leadership. I have served on local, state and national committees, and I am so grateful for the mentors I have had along this journey. I hope to be that mentor for you and to represent our division with integrity.