Grand Forks Educator Given National Award For Work With Homeless Students

(Grand Forks Public Schools image)

(KNOX) – The former students in transition coordinator for Grand Forks’ public schools, Sara Berg, has been given a national award for her work with homeless students.

The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth gave Berg its 2025 McKinney-Vento Liaison of the Year award Monday at the nonprofit organization’s annual conference. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction nominated Berg for the award.

Berg said she was “in shock” about the honor and said it demonstrates the value of all McKinney-Vento liaisons in North Dakota as they help students and families “work through challenges and barriers to make sure children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to an education. They’re amazing,” Berg said. “I don’t even have the words to describe the feeling, the gratitude that I have . We want our students to know we are there to help them succeed and that they can achieve their dreams.”

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law, which was first approved in 1987, that provides services and resources to homeless students and protects their right to public education. It provides federal money to states, which distribute it to local districts to support homeless students. It is named for former U.S. Reps. Stewart McKinney, R-Conn., and Bruce Vento, D-Min.