ANOKA-HENNEPIN INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 11
2727 N Ferry St.
Anoka, MN 55303
ahschools.us
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Anoka, Minnesota
Permit No. 40
ANOKA-HENNEPIN SCHOOL BOARD
VOL 35 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.
Director
Erin Heers-McArdle
District 1:
Andover, Anoka, western
Coon Rapids, Ramsey
763-506-4795
Board 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
Tim Evans, communication specialist
Angie Eggerichs, communication assistant
Heather Peters, Community Education communications coordinator
Elaine Guse, graphic designer, Print Shop and Design department
Anoka-Hennepin School District
2727 N Ferry St.
Anoka, MN 55303
763-506-1000
Visit our website at
ahschools.us
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ahschools
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ahschools
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ahschools
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anokahennepin
Director
Anna Dirkswager
District 4:
Andover, Ham Lake,
Nowthen, Oak Grove,
Ramsey
763-506-5847
Vice Chair
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
[email protected]
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.
Prepared and paid for by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303. This document is not on behalf of any candidate or ballot question.
Graduate spotlight:
Anoka’s Nicholas Jacobson-
Larson making music, screenwriting
dreams come true
When Nicholas Jacobson-Larson graduated from Anoka
High School (AHS) in 2003, he already knew he could
make a living in the music industry.
“Growing up — everyone my age had jobs where they
worked at a restaurant or gas station,” he said. “But
because I had a really supportive musical family, my jobs
were in music. So early on, I had proof I could make a
living doing music.”
Jacobson-Larson has built on that early musical
foundation, and today works as the conductor of Grammy
Award winner Michael Bublé’s orchestra when the singer
is on his world tour. And while he says his success in
music has come via a long winding road, he credits two
things for helping the most: his family, and his time at
Anoka High School.
“I didn’t realize until I left Anoka how uniquely
supportive the community is for musicians and the arts,”
he said. “It was valued in the community, and that made
an impression on me.”
So, too, did his mentor, former AHS orchestra director
Michael Halstenson, who Jacobson-Larson says really
helped to nurture his musical talent, and also helped to
instill a strong work ethic.
“
I’ve traveled around the world
and played with some of the best
musicians on the planet, and
(Halstenson) is still, in my book,
one of the best musicians I have
ever known. - Nicholas Jacobson-Larson
”
SPRING 2020
Nicholas Jacobson-Larson
“In high school, I was playing a bunch of different
instruments. Cello, guitar, piano, and I was in choir,
too,” he said. “But I really enjoyed rock and jazz, and
(Halstenson) — he was playing that, too. So from a
young age, he took me under his wing.”
Throughout high school, Jacobson-Larson was
playing in Halstenson’s orchestra, and also playing gigs
outside of school, including subbing with Staff Infection,
Halstenson’s band made of Anoka-Hennepin music
teachers.
“I’ve traveled around the world and played with some
of the best musicians on the planet, and (Halstenson)
is still, in my book, one of the best musicians I’ve ever
known,” he said.
Beyond gigging with Halstenson, Jacobson-Larson’s
first job, at the age of 15, was as a guitar teacher. But
from there, things got a little more complicated, he
joked. “For a couple years I played in a band that had
Wednesday and Saturday night gigs at a bar in Anoka,”
he said. “My folks weren’t stoked about that, but they
understood.”
College took Jacobson-Larson on a winding path that
led to degrees in composition as well as an interest in
screenwriting. After moving to Los Angeles to be closer
to the country’s music industry, he began building upon
successful jobs.
It was through industry connections that he landed a
role conducting Bublé’s orchestra as a one-time job on
the television program The Voice. But Bublé’s, his team,
continued on page 5