Anoka-Hennepin Schools 2727 N Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303 anoka. k12. mn. us
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Anoka, Minnesota Permit No. 40
ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL BOARD
VOL 31 NO 3
Focus is a service for residents of the Anoka-Hennepin School District published to keep them informed about the investment in their public schools and students. The Anoka- Hennepin School District serves more than 38,000 students and a population of 234,308 residents in 13 communities: Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Dayton, Fridley, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove and Ramsey.
Board Chair Tom Heidemann
District 1: Andover, Anoka, western Coon Rapids, Ramsey 763-506-4795
Vice Chair Marci Anderson
District 2: Blaine, eastern Coon Rapids
763-433-4150
Treasurer Bill Harvey
District 3: Champlin, southwestern Coon Rapids, Dayton 763-506-7743
Communication and Public Relations department Jim Skelly, director Kay Villella, assistant director Derrick Williams, communication specialist Courtney Markuson, communication specialist Janet Kimmel, communication assistant Heather Peters, Community Education communications coordinator
Elaine Guse, graphic designer, Print Shop and Design department Sue Austreng, community contributor
Anoka-Hennepin School District 2727 N Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303 763-506-1000
Visit our website at anoka. k12. mn. us
Make Anoka-Hennepin part of your social media
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Director William Fields
District 4: Andover, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove,
Ramsey 763-506-5847
Director Nicole Hayes District 5:
Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, south / southern Coon Rapids, Fridley 763-433-4151
Elected officials are listed here by the Anoka-Hennepin School District for informational purposes only.
Superintendent – David Law 763-506-1002 david. law @ ahschools. us
Clerk Jeff Simon District 6: southwestern
Andover, northern Coon Rapids
763-506-7742
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 employment.
Graduate spotlight
Blaine graduate hits funny bones, cracks‘ em up across the country
Andy Erikson loved high school – and that’ s no laughing matter!
Lessons taught by her“ really cool, really smart” Blaine High School( BHS) teachers tickled her ribs during her high school career and put her on track for the career in stand-up comedy that she enjoys today.
Perhaps the highlight of Erikson’ s comedy career occurred last fall, when the 2005 graduate appeared on NBC’ s Last Comic Standing. Finishing in the top 5, she toured the country doing stand-up comedy and launching her career on the national level.
Erikson also released a live stand-up comedy album called Standing Unicorn. A Los Angeles resident since 2014 she continues writing her own laugh lines and doing stand-up at clubs and colleges and recently auditioned and won a part on a television show.( Erikson is prohibited from revealing the show on which she will appear until after it has aired.)
“ I auditioned, read a few lines – just did it a couple different ways and got called the next day. I got it,” she said.
While she readies“ take one” on the television stage, Erikson is doing some screen writing and hopes to blend her creative comic talents.
“ I’ m trying to balance comedy and acting and think it would be really cool to have my own sit-com someday, something along the lines of New Girl or something like that,” she said.
Laughing all the way while pursuing performance and seeking the spotlight on bigger stages, Erikson said it was during her high school years— and the ensuing search for her true self— that truly honed her creative craft.
Teachers taught her that laughter lightens the load, she said, and cracking a smile can crack even the toughest task, relieve anxiety and soften stressful situations, too.
Last fall Andy Erikson was named one of NBC’ s Last Comic Standing top 5 comedians. Here she performed on tour at the Fox Tucson Theatre. Photo by Mary Andrews.
“ All my math teachers were super funny. They’ d tell these silly jokes and kind of balance out the serious subject— math— with lighter fare. My art teachers were all very encouraging and very expressive, too, but my AP history teacher,( Garnet) Towne, and
FALL 2016
Andy Erikson, 2005 Blaine High School graduate and 2015 Last Comic Standing top-5 comedian, last year released her first live stand-up comedy album, Standing Unicorn. Photo by Christina Gandolfo.
my European history teacher,( Roger) Dahl, probably had the biggest influence,” Erikson said.
The comedian tells the story of wanting to drop out of AP history when she found out how much homework was involved.
“ I came to class the first day and told Miss Towne I was going to drop( the class). She wouldn’ t let me! I’ m crying, I’ m telling her,‘ It’ s going to
“ continued on page 4
I loved high school. I was very active in school. It was a great time.
Andy Erikson, BHS graduate
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