Crystal Poppler

TOWER — A familiar face at Tower-Soudan Elementary is heading down the highway this fall as part of a leadership shuffle within ISD 2142.
John Jirik, who has served as principal in Tower-Soudan since 2020, will be stepping into a new role as assistant principal and activities director at North Woods School. Taking his place in Tower will be Crystal Poppler, who previously held the assistant principal role at North Woods.
“This is a lateral move in their contracts,” said Superintendent Reggie Engebritson. “Crystal’s background is in elementary teaching, and I want her to grow as a leader and have the opportunity to run an elementary school. John is familiar with North Woods, having been the dean of students and athletic director for several years there, and so we can use his skill set to partner with (Principal Kelly Engman)’s skill set to continue the work we are doing to provide a strong administrative team to support our teachers and students.”
School board member Ron Marinaro, who represents the Tower-Soudan area, told the Timberjay on Monday that Jirik’s departure will be a significant change for the school and the community.
“John did a great job in Tower, and I’m going to miss him there, for sure,” Marinaro said. “He had great communication with the students and staff and parents.”
Marinaro said his working relationship with Jirik was one of the reasons he initially decided to run for the school board.
“John and I go back 25 years – he was coaching when I was coaching,” Marinaro said. “When I was looking at getting on the board, he was a big part of that decision. I knew he did a fabulous job and I wouldn’t have problems or headaches. I could work with him – he was a big key in the whole picture of my getting involved in our school and community.”
Marinaro said he plans to stay closely involved at Tower-Soudan to help sustain the strong connections among staff, families, and the broader community that have been built in recent years. He said he’s already shared that commitment with the superintendent.
Marinaro offered a glimpse into the kind of rapport Jirik had with his students.
“I spent enough time at the school to see it,” he said. “Kids were knocking on his office window and waving. I’d get there before school and they were high-fiving him. They really gravitated toward him. And he was a person of authority, and the kids really respected him.”
Marinaro said he hasn’t had the chance to get to know Poppler yet but expressed confidence in the direction moving forward.
“I don’t know her that well, but I’m definitely going to be a part of trying to keep it going in the same direction,” he said.