LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION PAGE 4
School board election to be held Nov . 7
Three seats on the Anoka-Hennepin School Board will be up for election on Tuesday , November 7 , 2023 .
Details regarding impacted districts :
• District 1 : Includes Anoka , western Andover , western Coon Rapids , and southwestern Blaine .
Candidates : Erin Heers-McArdle Linda Hoekman
• District 2 : Includes Blaine and eastern Coon Rapids .
Candidates : Zach Arco Susan Witt
• District 5 : Includes Brooklyn Center , Brooklyn Park , southern Coon Rapids , Fridley .
Candidates : Michelle Langenfeld Scott Simmons Cyrus Wilson
Verify your election district , find your polling place , learn how to vote : Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State polling place finder online at pollfinder . sos . state . mn . us .
Anoka-Hennepin recognized for excellence in music education for ninth straight year
The Anoka-Hennepin School District has been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants ( NAMM ) for the ninth year . The honor recognizes a district ’ s outstanding commitment to music education .
Anoka-Hennepin was one of seven school districts in the state , and 830 nationally , to earn the award in 2023 .
NAMM is a non-profit organization that aims to advance participation in music-making for all ages by supporting scientific research , philanthropic giving and public service programs . The Best Communities for Music Education award recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers , administrators , parents , students , and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education . Designations are made to districts demonstrating an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education .
To be considered for the award , NAMM conducts an extensive review process to evaluate districts on a variety of factors - both in and outside the schools - from funding levels , participation , access to instruction , and minutes of instruction per grade level , to musical activities in and around the community . n
Coon Rapids Middle School student wins national school bus safety poster contest
Avrie Siedschlag , now a seventh grade student at Coon Rapids Middle School ( CRMS ), was named the winner of the 2022-23 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest , the National Association for Pupil Transportation ( NAPT ) announced Sept . 18 .
Siedschlag completed the winning poster as a sixth grade student last school year . She
Avrie Siedschlag
was also named the winner of the Anoka-Hennepin poster contest and the 2023 Minnesota School Bus Safety Poster Contest .
The 2022-23 theme was Safely Rolling to my Destination . The transportation department invited students in all grade levels to submit their best artwork for the competition . Each school held their own poster contest , with one winner being chosen from each grade level , and the winning poster for each school was entered into the district poster contest .
The objective of the contest was to encourage students to think about school bus safety , while also presenting an opportunity for discussion during School Bus Safety Week .
According to NAPT , Siedschlag ’ s artwork best represented this year ’ s theme by using creativity to communicate an important message meant to inspire and inform . Siedschlag showcased the importance of following safety protocols throughout the ride to the ultimate destination for all children , the school building . n
School Bus paraeducator recognized with Minnesota ’ s top award
Louise Sivanich , was recognized on July 27 with the 2023 Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation ( MAPT ) Special Education Transportation Award .
Sivanich was recognized at the 2023 MAPT Train the Trainer annual conference which was held July 24-27 in St . Cloud .
She was nominated by Jeff Mueller , Anoka- Hennepin transportation safety director , who included the following statement :
“ Louise Sivanich goes above and beyond and shows much compassion with students , staff , parents and drivers . She has outstanding attendance which is extremely important in providing a safe and consistent experience on the bus for students .”
Sivanich is known for making the workday fun , as well as for her compassion and calm demeanor . As a special education paraeducator , those traits are essential to help with the caretaking needs of students on her bus . Sivanich has also been asked to carry those same tools into emergency situations where she was able to control a scene before emergency medical teams arrived .
Louis Sivanch was recognized for her award at the Sept . 25 School Board meeting .
Left to right : Jeff Simon , school board clerk , Michele Fennell , transportation department , Louise Sivanach , Jeff Mueller , transportation safety coordinator and Amy Tiedens representing the Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation . Sivanch retired from the district following 23 years of dedicated service .
Mueller was in attendance with Sivanich as she received her award at the Train the Trainer conference . n