Newsletter 2019-20 Focus [3] Winter | Page 7

ol (CPHS) music teacher d one of “50 Directors the 22nd annual edition list of hundreds of wn to just 50 directors, e. other worthy teachers,” led, it is a lovely honor sent Minnesota well.” d and Orchestra ominated by students olleagues, musical s, administrators or others assion for music. Each iled story, helping create nt to her to be selected, doesn’t teach for awards. ents,” Grivna said. Minnesota Teacher of the ed and Anoka-Hennepin ere nominated. “Hopefully through this, I can help motivate another teacher or give them a little push to keep going if they are having a tough time. I feel so complimented — like this shouldn’t be me.” PAGE 4 Park High School music amed one of 50 “Directors e a Difference” Grivna is in her 16th year of teaching at CPHS, 17th in the district having spent Sieglinde Grivna one year at Jackson Middle School (JMS). She teaches music in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at CPHS, instructing junior and senior students in college-level theory, history, and composition. She is also the director of the clarinet choir. n state funding earmarked l-based mental health a state legislature upplemental Aid kage provided $30 million, istricts in the state, to itures, such as police , or other safety measures n is $1.32 million, and the d to help fund its schooles. In fact, the district services at each of its ludes early intervention, ng, individual and family s. ict’s chief financial officer, ng about $323,000 Safe Schools money out, gram for up to four years ing for permanent state “Our School Board has made it a priority to have mental health staff at every site,” she said. “So that’s why we’ve made this investment.” According to Dr. Eric Melbye, associate superintendent for middle schools and student services, Anoka-Hennepin’s student-based mental health services are funded through a braided approach, and the Safe Schools aid is just part of that. All told, the district has service delivery agreements with three contracted mental health agencies, and when needed, those agencies work to connect families to appropriate and affordable/no cost services, which can include on-site school-based mental health. For more information about the district’s schoolbased mental health programming, contact the district’s mental health consultant, Dr. Nita Kumar at 763-506-1161. n ict educators named candidates ota Teacher of the Year -grade science, Anoka rts. Adult Basic Education de, Rum River Elementary -grade English, Jackson ialty School for Math and perience coordinator, ical High School. cialist, Lincoln Elementary sic, Lincoln Elementary The seven Anoka-Hennepin teachers are among 134 candidates for the award statewide. Last year, Blaine High School (BHS) science teacher Timothy Riordan was one of nine finalists for the award. This year’s program will name the 56th Minnesota Teacher of the Year, celebrating the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers, from public or private schools. The 2020 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced Sunday, May 3, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. Over the coming weeks, a 25-member panel of community leaders will name a group of semifinalists and finalists. n