Krinke, Ashley (Smette)
Awarded in 2025
Ashley (Smette) Krinke is a December 2008 graduate of Valley City State University majoring in Elementary Education and a minor in Technology Education. She earned the VCSU Exceptional Student Teacher Award in 2009. She received her master’s in counseling in 2015 and a master’s in educational leadership in 2017 both from NDSU.
She began her teaching career at Valley City Public Schools before going to Northern Cass Public School in 2011 where she currently serves as the Elementary School Counselor.
Ashley’s leadership is rooted in her strong commitment to relationships and community. She has been instrumental in advocating for the whole child, ensuring learners’ academic, social, and emotional needs are met. She helped bring an on-site counselor from The Village to Northern Cass, starting with just one day a week and expanding into full-time services, now including family counseling. She also partners with NDSU by hosting counseling interns, giving them valuable real-world experience in schools.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed—she was named the North Dakota Elementary School Counselor of the Year in 2020. But beyond titles, Ashley is known for her reliability, dedication, creativity, and ability to inspire those around her. She is an active listener, problem-solver, organizer, and innovator in education with a true growth mindset.
Ashley said, “I have so many great memories at VCSU, but one of the most vivid memories was one of my first nights on campus during the freshman orientation. I came to VCSU not knowing anyone and felt quite alone all day long on that first day. There was a street dance outside of our dorms one evening and several of us ended up standing in the entry just peering out trying to decide what we were going to do! Instead of heading out to the dance, we opted for a night of playing cards on the floor for hours. That night led to lasting friendships and future roommates. From that moment on, VCSU and the Valley City community felt like home. Later, I completed my student teaching in Valley City, taught there for two years out of college, and built a youth group program Epworth Church. Valley holds a lot of special memories for me"
