MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Former Stillwater School Secretary Charged With Stealing More Than $90,000 From Staff Fund

STILLWATER, MN (September 23, 2026). A former Stillwater Middle School secretary has been charged with 12 felony theft counts after investigators alleged that she diverted more than $90,000 from a fund intended to support school employees and staff celebrations.

According to the criminal complaint, 40-year-old Danielle Heller is accused of taking $90,613.50 from the school’s Sunshine Fund between 2017 and 2024. Heller worked for Stillwater Area Public Schools from August 2010 through December 2024 and also served as a coach and extracurricular adviser.

The Sunshine Fund was intended to pay for staff-related expenses, including retirements and other employee celebrations. Prosecutors allege that Heller instead used fund money to pay personal Verizon, Comcast and Xcel Energy bills, along with Amazon purchases and restaurant expenses.

Investigators said Heller acknowledged experiencing financial problems and initially regarded the withdrawals as money she intended to borrow and repay after receiving proceeds from an expected lawsuit. The complaint alleges that she estimated taking between $20,000 and $30,000, substantially less than the amount authorities say their financial review identified.

Heller is also accused of depositing other school funds into the Sunshine Fund to make that money accessible to her.

Stillwater Area Public Schools said it discovered concerns about possible financial mishandling in late 2024, began an internal investigation and referred the matter to law enforcement. The district said Heller is no longer employed and that it has cooperated with investigators.

The charges remain allegations, and Heller is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Her first court appearance is scheduled for October.

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