Triton principal sleeps on roof for fundraiser

Dodge Center
Triton Elementary Principal Shane Van Beek spent the night under the stars on the school’s roof on May 29 as a fundraising incentive. Students chose incentives for a fundraising program for the school’s media center and STEM materials. Beginning in February, students and their families raised over $16,000 with the help of Boosterthon, an online platform that helps schools in their fundraising efforts.
Van Beek read books and ate a snack from the school’s roof live on Facebook. Then he attended the section track meet being held in Dodge Center, to watch his daughter, before spending the night on the roof. He was allowed a hammock and sleeping bag, another student chosen incentive. He was on the roof until 6:15 a.m.
Van Beek has been at Triton Schools for 20 years. He taught physical education and coached football, wrestling, and baseball for 13 years before spending three years as activities director and middle school principal. He has been in his current position as elementary principal for the last four years.
Students decided between having their principal kiss a farm animal, being taped to a wall or spending the night of the roof.
“I’d rather sleep on the roof than be duct taped to the wall,” said Van Beek.
Elementary Principal Shane Van Beek stands on top of the school roof with students below. He slept on the roof as a fundraising incentive.