Newsletters 2014-15 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 20

Anoka-Hennepin Schools 2727 N. Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303 www.anoka.k12.mn.us If requested, this newsletter will be provided in an alternative format for individuals with disabilities or in another language for individuals whose primary language is not English. A minimum of three days notice is needed. Please call the Family Welcome Center at 763-506-7928 to request an alternate format or language. VOL 30 NO 1 Focus is a service for residents of Anoka-Hennepin School District published to keep them informed about the investment in their public schools and students. The AnokaHennepin School District serves more than 38,000 students and a population of 248,650 residents in 13 communities: Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Dayton, Fridley, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove and Ramsey. Communication and Public Relations Department Mary Olson, director Kay Villella, assistant director Derrick Williams, communication specialist Courtney Markuson, communication specialist Marie Stockinger, department secretary Heather Peters, Community Education communications coordinator www.twitter.com/ ahschools www.facebook.com/ anokahennepin Make Anoka-Hennepin part of your social media Elaine Guse, graphic designer, Print Shop and Design Department Betsy Sundquist and Sarah Packingham, community contributors Anoka-Hennepin School District 2727 N. Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303 763-506-1000 Visit our website at www.anoka.k12.mn.us www.youtube.com/ anokahennepin Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Anoka, Minnesota Permit No. 40 Vice Chair Marci Anderson Director Bill Harvey A NOKA -H ENNEPIN S CHOOL B OARD Board Chair Tom Heidemann District 3: Champlin, Coon Rapids, Dayton 763-506-7743 Treasurer Jeff Simon District 6: southwestern Andover, eastern Coon Rapids 763-506-7742 District 2: Blaine, Coon Rapids 763-433-4150 Clerk Scott Wenzel District 5: Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, western Coon Rapids, Fridley 763-433-4151 District 1: Andover, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Ramsey 763-506-4795 Director William Fields District 4: Andover, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey 763-506-5847 Elected officials are listed here by the Anoka-Hennepin School District for informational purposes only. Superintendent – David Law 763-506-1002 [email protected] Anoka-Hennepin School District, in compliance with current statutes and regulations, and in recognition of its obligation to provide equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons within its jurisdiction, affirms that it will not discriminate on actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status. Upon request, Anoka-Hennepin will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals (staff, students and their families, and community members) with disabilities so they can participate in the district’s programs, services and activities. Individuals with disabilities should notify the American with Disabilities Act coordinator or contact their building principal if they have a disability requiring special assistance or services and, if so, what services are required. This notification should occur as far in advance as possible of the school-sponsored function, program or meeting. Students who are disabled consistent with the definitions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 will be identified, evaluated and provided free and appropriate public education, regardless of the severity of their handicap. All applicants and employees seeking employment with Anoka-Hennepin, will receive equal opportunities. This applies to all areas of employment including hiring, discharge, promotion, compensation, facilities, or privileges of e mployment. Graduate Spotlight Hard work, great teachers lead Anoka High School graduate to dream job reporting the news Adam May thinks he’s was always predisposed to become a journalist. Since he was young, May remembers being naturally inquisitive and fascinated with the television news his mother kept on in the background while cooking dinner. He also loved hearing about his father’s days as a police officer. “My mind was full of endless questions and I think that’s what sparked it,” May said. And while he may have been predisposed all along, it was his teachers and education at Anoka High School (AHS) that May credits with building the foundation for his career as American correspondent and anchor with Al Jazeera America. “It’s a dream come true for a journalist to be doing what I’m doing,” the 1993 AHS graduate said of his work. Specifically, May covers domestic affairs for the cable television news network. The bulk of his reporting is done on “America Tonight,” a news magazine-style program akin to 60 Minutes. He’s also in the anchor chair often, covering hot-button current events around the globe, such as the recent Israeli invasion of Gaza, and the alleged shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines jet in Ukraine. “It blows my mind that I’m where I am,” May said. “It’s an amazing job.” But still, it’s those AHS teachers that got him where he’s at, May said. Teachers like former AHS theater director Kent Knudsen. “ My time at Anoka – I look back at it so fondly. ” - Adam May, Anoka High School graduate BACK TO SCHOOL 2014 Anoka High School graduate Adam May in Mexico while filming a story on herion addiction for Al Jazeera America. “(Knudsen) taught me, trusted me and empowered me. I knew I wanted to be a television journalist, and my teachers — I had so many amazing teachers at Anoka — they talked to me and listened to me and helped me get involved and stay involved in the extra curriculars that would help me be what I wanted to be.” He was involved in extra currriculars like singing for the school’s choir, serving as a section editor for the school’s student newspaper, and performing theater. “My time at Anoka — I look back at it so fondly,” he said. After graduating from AHS, May attended the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities to study speech communications and history. Soon, he was interning at a Duluth, Minn., television station where he got his big break — as a 20-year-old. May, still an intern, was asked to help fill in when a reporting position suddenly opened. He did such a good job, they offered him the position shortly after. “It was a dream scenario,” May said. “I mean, I didn’t even graduate from the U of M and I had this job as a reporter. I was so fortunate that happened to me. I’ve seen so many interns come into newsrooms and the reality is that very few of them will ever get an on-air job in television.” May says it was part luck and part hard work that landed him that first job years ago. continued on page 14 “For me I had to work a lot of hours and I basically just glommed onto a couple of people in the newsroom to learn from them,” he said. “And they noticed that. They saw that I was willing to work hard and to do what they asked.”