LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION PAGE 4
Jeff Mueller recognized for leadership by state transportation organization
Anoka-Hennepin Schools transportation safety coordinator Jeff Mueller has been named the 2024 Minnesota Association of Pupil Transportation ( MAPT ) Administrator of the Year .
The award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies outstanding qualities that support and further the mission of MAPT .
Jeff Mueller
Mueller was recognized at the MAPT annual Train the Trainer seminar held July 22-24 in St . Cloud .
With over 40 years in the student transportation industry , Mueller has spent 25 years as the transportation safety coordinator for Anoka-Hennepin Schools . Mueller is responsible for providing safety and health leadership , communication , training and curriculum related to transportation safety districtwide and hires , retains and supervises over 300 employees including paraeducators , crossing guards and traffic control staff .
He also coordinates the annual School Bus Safety Poster Contest in the district , promoting school bus safety and allowing students to showcase their creativity and perspective with transportation safety .
Mueller has been involved with the Minnesota Train the Trainer seminars for 31 years serving as senior staff , past director , presenter and committee member and has also been a long-standing member of the Minnesota State School Bus Safety Road-e-o Committee serving as the co-director and director of the event . n
District receives national awards for excellence in communication
Anoka-Hennepin ’ s efforts to inform and engage students , staff and community members has been recognized as some of the nation ’ s best .
The district ’ s communication and public relations team earned three awards from the National School Public Relations Association ( NSPRA ), which is a professional organization for public and private school districts and post-secondary institutions from around the country .
Focusing on efficiencies : The Back-to-School FOCUS e-newsletter earned an award of excellence with key information to help families prepare for the new school year . A shift from a print to an electronic format saved money and increased access to information through language translation and accessibility options .
Inspiring teamwork : The back-to-school video , “ The Power of Purpose ,” received another award of excellence for introducing Superintendent Cory McIntyre to the Anoka-Hennepin community - while noting that great moments , great opportunities and miracles happen in schools each day .
Highlighting school experiences : The district also received an award of merit in the Video Series category for producing videos for district elementary schools in the 2023-24 school year to provide an inside look at what happens in school each day .
Anoka-Hennepin ’ s four-member communication and public relations team includes Jim Skelly , executive director ; Heather Peters , assistant director ; Tim Evans , communication specialist ; and Jessica Sauro , communications assistant . n
New principals and administrators in place for the 2024-25 school year
Five Anoka-Hennepin schools have welcomed new principals , and three district administrators started their roles this summer when the district began the 2024-25 school year .
Elementary school
In February , Paul Anderson was named the principal of Madison Elementary School and began his role on July 1 . Anderson has spent the last 18 years as the principal of Sand Creek Elementary School ; before that , he was an assistant principal at Andover Elementary School .
Alexa Collodora was selected as the principal for Evergreen Park Elementary STEM School of Innovation in April . Collodora has been with the district since 2016 as an elementary school teacher and transitioned to the assistant principal of Evergreen Park in 2019 .
Denise Schnabel was announced as the new principal of Ramsey Elementary in April and began her role on July 1 . Schnabel was previously the principal at Evergreen Park for the past six years and has been with the district in various roles since 2000 .
In March , Melanie Wohlers was named the principal of Sand Creek Elementary School . Wohlers was the assistant principal at Lincoln Elementary for the past four years and served as an admin intern at Dayton Elementary . Wohlers was also an elementary music teacher for seven years .
Paul Anderson
Project Lead the Way ( PLTW ) honors and recognizes outstanding teachers and administrators nationally annually . For the 2024-25 school year , Jenny Birkmeier , a teacher and curriculum integrator at Blaine High School ( BHS ), was one of 27 selected nationwide to earn an Outstanding PLTW Administrator recognition .
Alexa Collodora
Denise Schnabel
Melanie Wohlers
The award is presented to
Jenny Birkmeier administrators that actively engage and support their students , colleagues , and communities . Birkmeier was recognized for her success in enabling and empowering students to develop key skills important for college and career , and for demonstrating success in implementing and supporting PLTW by aligning the work with the Center for Engineering , Math and Science ( CEMS ) curriculum at BHS . n
Middle school
In August , Kaela Rekucki was announced as the new principal of Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine . Rekucki was previously an assistant principal in the Wayzata School District and worked in Edina Public Schools as a dean of students and as an instructional coach .
District administrators
Brian Duffy was named Director of Employee Services in August . Duffy previously worked as the Director of Employee Development and Evaluation and QComp and has previously served as assistant principal , peer coach and teacher at Anoka-Hennepin Schools . Duffy has also been a band director and taught music in K-12 schools .
Tom Shaw transitioned from principal to director of student services just before the school year began . Shaw has been working in the Anoka-Hennepin School District for 27 years , starting as a teacher and moving into leadership roles at Cross Roads , Coon Rapids , Northdale and Roosevelt middle schools .
Kathy Schulz was selected as Health Services Coordinator for the district in May . Schulz was previously the nurse at the Educational Service Center and has been with the Anoka-Hennepin School District in a nursing role at various sites since 2004 . n
Kaela Rekucki
Brian Duffy
Tom Shaw
Kathy Schulz
Blaine ’ s Jenny Birkmeier recognized nationally as Outstanding Project Lead the Way Administrator
Project Lead The Way ( PLTW ) is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for K-12 students and teachers across the nation , including students in Blaine High School ’ s Center for Engineering and Math . PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand , transportable knowledge and skills through STEM pathways in computer science , engineering , and biomedical science .