LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Four Community
Education staff
honored with
statewide awards
Marilee
Christensen-Adams
“
Thanks to Marilee’s
leadership, 320 low income
children, who otherwise might
not have attended preschool,
will be ready for kindergarten
and ongoing academic
success.
”
assistant manger,
Community Education
Community Educator
of the Year
F
or bringing a “genuine dedication, a commitment to quality and humor to her
work,” Marilee Christensen-Adams
received the “Community Educator of the Year”
award from the Minnesota Community Education
Association (MCEA). In her role in Community
Education, Christensen-Adams is responsible for
early childhood programs.
Christensen-Adams was nominated by Early
Childhood Special Education (ECFE)/School
Readiness Program (SRP) supervisors Mary
Washburn, Beth Yokom, Kathy Mirocha, and Jody
Bordwell. In their nomination letter, the women
wrote that they have all benefited from
Christensen-Adams’ wisdom, kindness, respect,
and humor. The women wrote about how
Christensen-Adams has made a difference in the
lives of young children in the Anoka-Hennepin
School District.
“An example of this is our Kindergarten
Readiness Program, a targeted low income preschool, which has grown from three locations to
eight locations, due to additional funding from the
K-12 budget,” the women wrote. “Working with
K-12 district leadership, Marilee secured administrative and school board financial support for the
program.
“Saying that she ‘puts the money where her
mouth is’ is no small statement. Thanks to
Marilee’s leadership, 320 low income children,
who otherwise might not have attended preschool,
will be ready for kindergarten and ongoing
academic success.”
Surprised and humbled by the award,
Christensen-Adams points out that the word
“community” is in the award title. ChristensenAdams speaks warmly about the work of the
Kindergarten Readiness Program (KRP), School
Readiness Program (SRP) and ECFE teachers.
“We had a child who was so far behind at the
start of the school year that we were going to refer
him to special education,” Christensen-Adams
said. “But by January he was writing his name
legibly, starting with a capital letter.
“It’s great to see a child’s growth. I love reading
parent evaluations. The comments are so heartfelt
from parents who appreciate the benefits our programs provide to their children and their families.
“Every day I come to work I want to contribute
something and make a difference.” ■
Volunteer Services supervisor
Mary Wiser Award
for Excellence
in Volunteer
Administration
Sue Archbold received the Mary Wiser Award
for Excellence in Volunteer Administration from
the Minnesota Association for Volunteer
Administration (MAVA).
Glenice Jones, the volunteer services
coordinator for Metro North Adult Basic
Education, supplied a nomination letter for
Archbold because she has been a mentor.
“I know that anytime I have questions or
need the best information in the field, I will call Sue
to discuss it,” Jones wrote. “We have worked together to create information to share with volunteers
and she has lead the way in many areas, including
risk management, outreach/recruitment and recognition. She is always learning and sharing the best
recommendations in volunteer management.”
“
I am thrilled and honored to
receive the award. I’ve always felt
we’ve had a good program and
this award validates that feeling.
- Sue Archbold
”
Archbold did not know that Parent Involvement
Coordinator, Linda Rodgers had nominated her for
the award and was very surprised to receive an
email notifying her she had won.
“It’s very humbling to know that Linda nominated me for the award; that speaks volumes,” said
Archbold of her long-time co-worker. “I am thrilled
and honored to receive the award. I’ve always felt
we’ve had a good program and this award validates
that feeling. The award belongs to everyone who
has worked to make Anoka-Hennepin’s volunteer
services an excellent program.” ■
Linda Keller
“
For most people, data
is not the most thrilling
thing on earth, but for
Linda Keller, the mere
mention of statistics and
numbers makes her
eyes sparkle.
W I N T E R
Sue Archbold
2 0 1 3
”
accountability coordinator,
Metro North Adult Basic
Education
ABE Leadership
Award, Literacy
Action Network
Linda Keller was nominated for the Adult Basic
Education (ABE) award by Pat Adams, a
Community Education manager, who began the
nomination with, “For most people, data is not the
most thrilling thing on earth, but for Linda Keller,
F O C U S
the mere mention of statistics and numbers makes
her eyes sparkle.”
Keller did not know she was nominated for the
award and said she cried when Adams told her she
had won. ABE works with about 6,000 students a
year. Keller enjoys what she does and the selfesteem and confidence people build through the
ABE program.
“This is a very supportive environment for students learning English or gaining skills for their
GED (general equivalence diploma) or to gain
skills for a new job or to excel in the job they are
in,” Keller said. “We have teachers and volunteers
as well as students who are in the same boat. And
there is no age limit. We have students who are 16
to 85 years old. A 72 year-old student earned a
GED last spring; it’s never too late.” ■
Beth Yokom
supervisor, Early
Childhood Family
Education/School
Readiness Preschool
Ruth Hathaway Jewson
Distinguished Service
to Families Award from the Minne sota
Council on Family Relations
For many it’s an honor to be nominated for an
award. For Beth Yokom, a supervisor for the Early
Childhood Family Education (ECFE) and School
Readiness Preschool (SRP) programs, it was a
double honor because she was nominated by her
mentors, Marty Rossmann and Betty Cook.
Rossmann was Yokom’s adviser at the University
of Minnesota; Cook and Yokom have worked on
many projects together.
“All of Beth’s work can be characterized as a
deep commitment to families through parent
education and early education,” the women wrote.
“She puts families first in all decision making.”
Yokom had no idea she was nominated for
the award and was stunned to learn she had won.
She said it was humbling to be nominated by her
mentors and is inspired to mentor others as she has
been mentored.
“There is a point in your career in which you
realize it’s our turn to turn around and offer a
hand to the next generation, the next group of
professionals,” Yokom said. “They have important
work to do and it will be easier for them to do if
they have the support of people in the field.” ■
“
She puts families first in all
decision making.
”
P A G E
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