PAGE 5
LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
District staff recognized for going above and beyond
Superintendent column cont . from page 1
Anoka-Hennepin Schools honor the 2024 Above & Beyond recipients for their exceptional dedication to the students of the district at a ceremony in April . Top row , from left : Mindy Meyers , Waapishki Kiisis Ikwe , Hannah Schrempp , Penny Walsh , Sheila Joslin . Middle row , from left : Lori De Jong , Ray Richardson , Amanda Eilertson , Coral-Lyn Wyman , Cory Davis . Front row , from left : Bich Lieu Nguyen , Denise Schnabel , Marti Biegler , Julia Stock , Corinna Nunnery , Melyssa Carlson .
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation ( AHEF ) and Anoka-Hennepin Schools sponsor the Above & Beyond Awards program to recognize outstanding employees for innovation , creativity , caring and commitment . Award recipients were nominated by parents , students and colleagues and were selected
Marti Biegler Jackson Middle School ,
special education teacher ( DCD and PI ) and case manager .
Melyssa Carlson Educational Service Center , technology , technology facilitator .
Cory Davis Champlin Park High School ,
physical education teacher and coach .
Lori De Jong Lincoln Elementary , school office supervisor .
Amanda Eilertson Champlin Park High School , academic intervention teacher . by a panel of community representatives , past recipients and district leaders .
More than 150 staff members were nominated for the 2024 awards , the 27th year of a recognition program in the school district ’ s history . n
Educators named finalists for national STEM award
Two Anoka-Hennepin educators have been named finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching ( PAEMST ). Sarah Donovan , a third grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary has been named a finalist in math and Krista Wyvell-Fink , a fourth grade teacher at Rum River Elementary is a finalist in science .
The PAEMST are the highest honors bestowed by the U . S . government specifically for K-12 science , technology , engineering , and mathematics teaching . The awards were established by Congress in 1983 and the President recognizes around 100 exemplary teachers each year .
The award recognizes teachers who have deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability
2024 Above and Beyond recipients :
Sheila Joslin Oxbow Creek Elementary , school office supervisor . Mindy Meyers Waapishki Kiisis Ikwe Educational Service Center ,
American Indian Education Program Coordinator .
Bich Lieu Nguyen Educational Service Center ,
technology , instructional technology facilitator .
Corinna Nunnery Oxbow Creek Elementary , Adventures Plus , site coordinator .
Ray Richardson Educational Service Center ,
buildings and grounds , maintenance manager .
Sarah Donovan
Denise Schnabel Evergreen Park Elementary , principal .
Hannah Schrempp Oak View Middle School , secondary reading teacher .
Julia Stock Brookside Elementary , teacher , grade 2 .
Penny Walsh
Riverview Early Childhood Family Education ( ECFE ),
parent and family educator .
Coral-Lyn Wyman Champlin Park High School , assistant principal .
to motivate and enable students to succeed in those areas .
“ Throughout my career , I have had the opportunity to work alongside dedicated and talented math educators who have received this prestigious award ,” Donovan said . “ They have inspired , influenced , and encouraged me to step out of
Krista Wyvell-Fink my comfort zone and implement new teaching strategies making math accessible and relevant for all students . It truly is an honor to be recognized as a finalist for this award .”
“ It was exciting to be nominated , so being a finalist feels amazing ,” Fink said . “ I love science . As an elementary teacher , science tends to fade behind math and reading , and knowing there is an award out there for elementary science , says science holds value for our youngest students .” n improve . It ’ s at the heart of the district ’ s continuous improvement model and school board strategic priorities process that drives school improvement . The approach aligns dates in the calendar with key decision points , allowing the orderly addition and modification of programming or school priorities .
The board has refined and focused those priorities for next school year on improving outcomes for literacy at all grade levels , addressing disruptive student behaviors to ensure safe and welcoming schools and recruiting and retaining high-quality staff .
These goals are reflective of community expectations to focus on core academic areas such as reading while ensuring schools are safe and welcoming for all students . Collectively these plans all lead to successful graduates who are prepared for their next step in life .
The 2024-25 school year brought forward some significant accomplishments along with challenges . Five schools were recognized for excellence nationally by Magnet Schools of America , three schools earned national accolades in STEM programming from Project Lead the Way , and Monroe Elementary School in Brooklyn Park was honored by the Minnesota Business Partnership with their top education award due to their 18 % to 25 % increase in reading proficiency over one year .
Seven of our educators were in the running for Minnesota ’ s Teacher of the Year and two were named semi-finalists . Two elementary teachers are finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching , a designation presented to only 100 teachers in the nation . Over 3,200 students were recognized for outstanding academic growth in math , reading and language acqusition and hundreds were recognized at our first-ever Academic Growth recognition ceremonies and the district reported the second highest graduation rate in history , a full 3.4 % above the state average .
Our district embraced a theme this school year called “ The Power of Purpose ”, a call to our staff to reflect on their personal “ why ” and how they can work with others in a shared purpose . The hard work and shared purpose of our teachers and district staff is essential in developing positive results that serve as a source of pride . The success of our students serves as inspiration for continued improvement and even better results .
As the school year comes to a close , I want to thank our staff and community for supporting our students as we work together to create and maintain the best quality schools possible . n
POWEROF PURPOSE
THE