Meet the Principal
Samuel Court, Principal
“Education is the key to unlocking the world. It is the passport to freedom.” - Oprah Winfrey
Court is honored to be back atTalahi Community School as the principal. With a passion for education that spans four generations of his family, Court brings 19 years of experience working in schools across four different states. His diverse roles have included teaching grades 2 through 6, implementing Title 1 interventions, and integrating STEM education. Court holds fond memories of his time teaching at Talahi from 2013 to 2016. Prior to his current position, he served as a principal in a neighboring district for six years and briefly acted as an interim superintendent.
Court pursued his undergraduate degree in elementary education at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. He furthered his education by earning a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. In addition, he has completed coursework in teaching English as a Second Language at Kansas State University and also holds a 6th-year certificate from St. Cloud State University for his principal and superintendent licenses.
As a proud resident of St. Cloud, his two sons attend 1st grade and 3rd grade in St. Cloud Area School District. His wife is a professor at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. During his leisure time, he enjoys activities such as running, camping, fishing, grilling and cherishing moments with his family. Don’t hold it against him, but he is an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
Court is deeply committed to fostering strong connections with students, families and the community. He believes in open communication and collaborative partnerships to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment. He looks forward to working closely with all stakeholders to support the growth and development of every student at Talahi Community School.
Safiyo Hassan, Assistant Principal
Safiyo Hassan is excited to join Talahi Community School as an assistant principal. She has spent her career in education as both an elementary teacher and school leader, with a passion for supporting students, developing educators and building strong school communities.
Hassan began her career as an elementary teacher and has since served in several leadership roles in the St. Cloud area. Her experience has included instructional leadership, supporting schoolwide systems, partnering with families and working alongside educators to create positive learning environments for students. Throughout her career, she has valued the relationships she has built with students, families and staff and believes those relationships are an important part of a successful school community.
She earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University and her master's degree in K–12 educational administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She also completed a specialist degree in educational leadership and holds Minnesota administrative licenses for both principal and superintendent leadership.
Hassan is proud to continue serving the St. Cloud community and is excited to begin this next chapter at Talahi Community School. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and making memories with her young son.
As she begins her time at Talahi, she looks forward to getting to know students, families and staff and learning more about what makes the school community special. She believes in listening first, building trust and working together. Her goal is to be a supportive and approachable leader who helps create a school where students feel cared for, teachers feel supported and families feel connected to their child's education.