In the Know - March 26, 2024
March 26, 2024
Medica selected as health insurance provider beginning Sept. 1, 2024
🏥 For the 2024-25 school year, Anoka-Hennepin Health Insurance benefits will be moving from UnitedHealthcare to Medica. Open enrollment will run from May 28 through June 12 with the effective date of Sept. 1, 2024.
❗Due to the change in the health insurance provider, all insurance-eligible employees will be required to log in to the online enrollment system Worklife and make an election for health coverage. Current health insurance selections will not roll into the new insurance year.
📋 The Anoka-Hennepin Schools insurance department is currently working with Medica to prepare open enrollment materials, ensuring a smooth transition to the new provider. Detailed information about new plans and rates will be made available to employees in multiple formats, including open enrollment materials and virtual and in-person meetings.
Background: At a School Board meeting on Feb. 26, Medica was approved for the Anoka-Hennepin self-funded health plan, which will go into effect Sept. 1, 2024. The decision to change providers was based on the results of a competitive bid process as required by state law. By statute, the school district must seek bids for third-party administrative services every two years.
District staff recognized for going Above & Beyond
📅 The 2024 Above & Beyond Awards ceremony honoring 15 recipients will take place April 3 at the Educational Service Center (ESC). Stay tuned to the Anoka-Hennepin School District website to watch the live stream or archive of the event.
Marti Biegler
“Marti has a passion for inclusivity and accessibility for all students. Our students are set up for success in their life beyond high school based on Marti’s vision for providing students with real, hands-on learning experiences.” - Stephanie Batts, special education teacher at Jackson Middle School.
Through her work as the vocational skills teacher at Jackson Middle School, Marti Biegler has displayed her passion for inclusivity and accessibility for all students. For 19 years, Biegler has thought outside of the box to create unique learning experiences for students which has since grown beyond the walls of Jackson Middle School. Read more about Marti Beigler.
Melyssa Carlson
“Melyssa has demonstrated initiative, creativity and the ability to think strategically under pressure. Her exceptional capacity to develop trusting relationships among colleagues, staff, students and community members speaks to her passion, kindness and interpersonal skills.” - Anne Norsted, Anoka-Hennepin Elementary Teaching and Learning Specialist.
This past year, Melyssa Carlson, district technology facilitator, collaborated with her team and took on the role of creating and facilitating the Flex Professional Development website for elementary staff to have an organized, user-friendly, systemized approach for requests, registrations and accountability. Additionally, Carlson has created a new probationary teacher website and has helped support the implementation of twigScience. Read more about Melyssa Carlson.
Cory Davis
“Mr. Davis is an excellent role model to those around him, which is what this generation so desperately needs. Being real with students and genuinely caring about who they are as individuals, helps him have such a powerful influence on their lives.” - Angie Erickson, parent of CPHS student.
Cory Davis leads by example. Whether he’s teaching students about the importance of being physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle during physical education classes at Champlin Park High School (CPHS), or on the baseball diamond as the ninth grade coach, Davis makes the most of his leadership opportunities. Read more about Cory Davis.
Lori De Jong
“Whether it is supporting students who may need a break from class, setting up fun events for staff members or responding to questions from families and community members, Lori's impact on the Lincoln community goes far beyond the office.” - Michelle Zimmerman, principal, Lincoln Elementary School.
A valued member of the school’s leadership team, Lori De Jong, the school office supervisor at Lincoln Elementary, is the ‘go-to’ person at Lincoln because of her willingness to do whatever is needed to foster the best possible school experience for all. Read more about Lori De Jong.
Amanda Eilertson
“In my 10 years in education, I have never seen a teacher demonstrate more care for their students than Amanda. She is incredibly compassionate and generous with her time and resources, and the positive impact it has on her students is nothing less than inspiring.” - Taylor Melius-Polzin, student support teacher at Champlin Park High School.
Amanda Eilertson goes the extra mile for her students every single day as an academic intervention teacher at Champlin Park High School (CPHS). She takes the time to connect with her students and makes time for one-on-one conferences to ensure students feel supported and have the resources they need to succeed. Read more about Amanda Eilertson.
District to host Education Partner Resource Fair for Special Education careers
Anoka-Hennepin is hosting an open house-style Education Partner Resource Fair on Monday, April 15 from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Educational Service Center for staff to connect with local colleges and universities to learn more about their programs.
Anoka-Hennepin recently received a Special Education Pipeline grant from the Minnesota Department of Education to support the district's recruitment and retention of special education teachers.
The program will support Anoka-Hennepin teachers with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 license, or a paraprofessional or other unlicensed staff, who demonstrate a willingness to be a special education teacher upon completion of the program.
If you are interested in starting or continuing your education to become a special education teacher, attend the informational resource fair to learn more about the program and the schools offering pathways to a degree. RSVP to attend the event.
Schools attending:
- Augsburg University
- Bemidji State University
- Bethel University
- Hamline University
- Saint Mary’s University
- University of Minnesota
- University of St. Thomas
Two district educators named semifinalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year
Of the seven Anoka-Hennepin educators named candidates for the 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award, two have been selected as semifinalists.
Deena Bayer, social studies teacher at Blaine High School, and Tom Powers, first grade teacher at Rum River Elementary School, are among 27 semifinalists for the award statewide.
“I'm truly humbled and grateful to be selected as a semifinalist for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year award,” Bayer said. “It means the world to me to be considered, as I know there are countless educators out there doing the hard work. Giving the students an opportunity to explore their strengths, identities, and gifts that they can bring to the world brings me the greatest joy. Becoming a teacher was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and has given me a sense of purpose and value that no other profession can.”
“I'm very excited to be named as a semifinalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year,” Powers said. “I truly believe I'm one of many thousands of teachers in our state and our district worthy of this honor. Each of us is the teacher of the year for many current and former students. I just hope that with this recognition I'm able to be an ambassador for all teachers and others who work with students. It has been the influence of many other colleagues who made me who I am.”
This year’s program will name the 60th Minnesota Teacher of the Year, celebrating the tradition of excellence in teaching in Minnesota. Eligible candidates include pre-kindergarten through grade 12, Early Childhood Family Education and Adult Basic Education teachers from public or private schools.
In mid-March, the semifinalists’ portfolios and video submissions will be reviewed by a panel of community leaders to select about 10 finalists. The 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced May 5 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
Read more about the award, and see a statewide list of semifinalists on the Education Minnesota website.
Prepare to change your employee password in March and April
💻 Keeping data safe and protected is the driving factor behind having a secure network password. Last year, all Anoka-Hennepin employees changed their passwords to the new secure 16-minimum character standard.
With the new secure password standard in place, employees in the district only need to change their password annually. Starting in March, users will be prompted by their machines to change their password. Classified staff that never log into a machine will need to find a machine onsite to change their password and should do so at their earliest convenience.
Considerations: Employees are encouraged to consider changing their password before the deadline and at a time of day when they have access to technology support. Be sure to be connected to the Anoka-Hennepin network when you change your password.
Tips on how to create a strong passphrase: First, start with a long word or phrase. Try to pick something memorable to you personally, but does not include personal information. Your name is sensitive information, never include your name, address, ID number, or any details about your family or life in your passphrases.
Strong passphrase choices include:
- Favorite sayings.
- Funny phrases.
- References to something you like but would be difficult for others to guess, even if they know you.
Next, add to your strong word or phrase. For example, Gold Crown. This can be made stronger by making it more complex: The Queen Wears a Gold Crown. This is still easy to remember, but harder to crack.
Your passphrase goal:
- Create something long, memorable, and difficult to guess.
- Be ready to change your password when promoted.
Once you change your password, you will be logged out of Google, iCloud, and Microsoft on all devices and you will need to log in again using your new passphrase. This is a Google 2-step verification requirement. Please be prepared with your phone or your preferred method of 2-step verification during the change.
Appreciation of diversity workshop: The Asian American & Pacific Islander Experience and Fostering Student Success
The Appreciation of Diversity speaker series is offered in alignment with the Anoka-Hennepin Equity Achievement Plan, a coordinated effort to promote high academic achievement for all students and eliminate predictable and persistent gaps between student groups.
Gaining an understanding of the cultures throughout Anoka-Hennepin schools and the community is the focus of the series, a voluntary opportunity available to all staff.
The final workshop of the three-part series is scheduled for Saturday, April 13 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Educational Service Center in Anoka. Registration is free and available through the Learning Management System (LMS) in A-HConnect. Licensed staff will earn three hours of license requirement towards cultural competency training for each session attended.
Staff are encouraged to attend one, all, or a combination of the series.
Visit ahschools.us/equityachievementplan to view the entire plan and additional information.
📆 When: Saturday, April 13
⏰ Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
📍 Location: Educational Service Center (2727 N Ferry St. Anoka, MN 55303)
✅ Registration Deadline: March 30 in LMS
About the event: This professional development opportunity will focus on elevating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) student voices, and learning strategies to support our students and families in preparation for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May) and beyond. In collaboration with Asian Media Access (AMA), a community non-profit organization, Anoka-Hennepin educators will learn about the Cultural Intelligence Model, how AAPI students navigate bi-cultural settings, and how staff will experience performances by AAPI youth.
Incorporated in August 1992, Asian Media Access, Inc. (AMA) is a comprehensive, multimedia-based, community advocacy agency. AMA is dedicated to using multimedia arts and technology as tools for social betterment. By unleashing the creativity of youth through multimedia arts and channeling their risk behaviors and vulnerability into leadership potential, we create a community-based response to improve cross-cultural/generational understanding, challenge stereotypical beliefs, and build a society that values arts to inspire young people’s healthy transition into adulthood and improve the world around them.
Applications open for the AHEF's first round of grants for 2024-25 school year
The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) has opened the spring round of grants for the 2024-25 school year. Apply for a grant for next school year at ahef.us.
Any teacher or Anoka-Hennepin employee is able to submit a grant that cultivates innovative and equitable experiences for district students.
“It is because of our generous donors, that these funds are available to teachers and staff to benefit students,” said Tess DeGeest, Executive Director of the AHEF. “Donors make this possible because they care about kids, and they care about education.”
All grant recipients commit to submitting a report on the impact of the grant-funded project along with photos, videos and/or testimonials of the grant’s impact on students. Applications close on Friday, March 29, 2024 with funds available in August for the 2024-25 school year.
📲 Questions about the grant process should be directed to Tess DeGeest at 763-506-1107 or via email at theresa.degeest@ahschools.us.
Trusted Partner Scholarship Program with Saint Mary’s University
Anoka-Hennepin has entered into the Trusted Partner Scholarship Program with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota providing special benefits for district employees and their spouses.
The Trusted Partner Scholarship program offers:
- Waived application fee along with expedited enrollment.
- $50 off per credit for bachelor’s programs.
- $70 off per credit for master’s or licensure program, including Ed.S. degree.
- $90 off per credit for doctorate-level programs.
Couple those savings with:
- Quality online classes augmented by potential in-person Summer Institute experiences.
- Highly successful professors with first-hand teaching experience.
- Leadership development training and exercises are woven into each program.
This program was designed to help busy professionals push toward and reach their goals.
For more information and to learn more about what Saint Mary’s has to offer, visit the Saint Mary’s Partnership Scholarship program website.
Final Parent Engage 360 event set for Monday, April 1
Join parents and guardians from the Anoka-Hennepin Schools community for information and resources to support the needs of students today.
What to expect: The last Parent Engage 360 event of the 2023-24 school year will be held on Monday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Andover High School auditorium. The featured guest speaker will be Gabby Fitzgerald, Director of Education with myHealth for Teens and Young Adults. Anoka-Hennepin Chemical Health Prevention Specialists Josh VanHeuveln and Abigail Rice will also participate in the event to share resources and information with parents and guardians about tobacco and vaping prevention.
The big picture: Anoka-Hennepin is hosting three Parent Engage 360 community and parent education events during the 2023-24 school year. These events aim to provide resources for parents and guardians to support their students and others in the community. Topics range from mental health, chemical health, internet safety, and more. Parent Engage 360 forum events are offered both in-person and in virtual formats and are free and open to the public.
To learn more and register to attend this event, please visit ahschools.us/parentengage360.
Learn more about Parent Engage 360: Parent Engage 360 events aim to provide resources to parents and guardians to support their students and others in the community. Anoka-Hennepin Schools realize the importance of parent engagement in maximizing student success.
🎙️Tune in for more: For more resources, tune in to the award-winning Parent Engage 360 Podcast which is available on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Samsung Podcasts.
Two students represent district at state math competition
John Downs, a junior at Andover High School, and Taison Scofield, a freshman at Blaine High School, represented Anoka-Hennepin at this year’s Minnesota State High School Mathematics League tournament held March 11 at Spring Lake Park High School.
By the numbers: Downs was the number one overall finisher in the North Suburban Division earning himself a spot in the state competition. Scofield placed third overall in the division and section competition to advance to state.
It all adds up: Math League is an after-school activity where students study to take two tests for each competition with topics ranging from Algebra 1 & 2, geometry, precalculus, probability, statistics and more. Students begin practice in October in preparation for the first competition in November and typically compete in five events throughout the school year. Each school then selects eight students for their varsity roster and those students’ points count toward team totals in events. Every participant from each school competes as an individual in two events and the eight-member team participates in a team portion of the competition.
The takeaway: Math League provides students with the opportunity to be challenged mathematically and to learn about topics not typically covered in a regular math class and is open to all students.
Taison Scofield
John Downs
Winter sports and activities roundup
With the winter sports and activities season wrapping up, take a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Updates are available from boys basketball. 🏀
District leaders visit with students from Sandburg Regional High School
In an effort to collect valuable feedback and raise student voice in the decision-making process, district leaders met with a dozen students from Sandburg Regional High School on March 22.
Why it matters: This meeting was the seventh of the year, as Superintendent Cory McIntyre and district leaders have scheduled visits at all district high schools. The hour-long sessions aim to gather student perspectives on the high school experience to ensure the district provides a safe, welcoming, positive school environment.
What they're saying: “I think it is really important for teenagers to be able to get their point and perspectives across to the adults so that we can make some change, show new ideas and bring a new, fun learning style to the table,” said Kebraea Sturdivant, a student at Sandburg Regional.
The big picture: The students described the qualities of their favorite teachers and the themes that emerged were connection, listening, trust and respect. The conversation also covered safety and how to improve their high school. Overall, students feel safe and appreciate the smaller environment Sandburg Regional offers which allows them to focus on their work.
Community Education: Families can now register for summer classes and activities
It’s time to gear up for a season filled with excitement and enrichment! Anoka-Hennepin Community Education offers classes and activities for youth from preschool to grade eight, providing a perfect blend of learning and fun.
Whether your child is passionate about sports, arts, sciences, or simply looking to explore new interests, it’s covered! Summer programming is designed to foster personal growth, creativity, and social interaction.
- 🔎 View the summer flyer and follow the links to register.
- 👩🏻💻 Browse the class line up directly.
Adults: Community Education offers something for you also. See what exciting adult classes are being offered this spring!
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This e-newsletter is published by Anoka-Hennepin Schools. It's sent to all Anoka-Hennepin staff on a weekly basis during the school year, excluding breaks (and periodically during the summer). Questions, comments or concerns about In the Know e-newsletter? Contact us.