In the Know - Top Stories of 2022

December 30, 2022

In this special holiday edition of In the Know, the district will be revisiting the top stories of 2022. As these stories demonstrate, 2022 was another exciting year for Anoka-Hennepin Schools.

In 2022, Andover High School celebrated three teams that won a state championship. The Huskies claimed the girls and boys hockey titles (just second time in state history both hockey champs have come from the same city) and then the boys track and field team won the state meet in June.

Read more about the girls hockey title run, the historic boys hockey season and the outstanding effort by the boys track and field program.

Champlin Park High School (CPHS) junior Andres Johnson was hard at work for more than seven months to compose an original piece that was performed live for the very first time Oct. 18 when the CPHS concert orchestra put bow to string in their first performance of the school year. Read more about Andres' composition titled Olympus Mons.

Blaine High School achievement coach Kevin Bross was named a TIME Innovative Teacher in 2022. He helped to create a teaching model based on medical rounds to allow teachers to learn from each other and grow as educators. Read more about how this idea is helping teachers across the district.

Last spring Sloan Peterson from Wilson Elementary School was one of just nine students to be selected as a finalist for the Braille Challenge - an international completion in Los Angeles for students who are blind or visually impaired. Read more about Peterson's love to be tested.

The Parent Engage 360 Podcast was recognized with a Publications and Digital Media Excellence Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). The podcast is produced monthly and aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in a variety of topics from both district employees and community resources. Listen to the podcast at www.ahschools.us/parentengage360.

The district’s communication and public relations team earned five 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. View the full details.

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board selected Cory McIntyre as the next superintendent of the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Superintendent McIntyre is expected to begin service on July 1, 2023.

“Anoka-Hennepin Schools has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a belief that all students can learn at high levels,” McIntyre said. “I believe the mission and vision of the District is a match with my philosophy of education, and my skills and abilities as a leader.”

Mike Farley, principal at Anoka High School, typically starts each school year with an all-school assembly where he finds creative ways to deliver a theme for the year. Wrestling with the idea of overcoming adversity, Farley stepped into the ring to face it head on with a clothesline and a body slam. Read more about the assembly students are still talking about.

Champlin Park High School senior Paige Kalal wrapped up her illustrious soccer career by being named 2022 Class AAA Ms. Soccer by the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association. Kalal was a four-time all-state selection for the Rebels and will continue her academic and soccer career at the University of Minnesota next season.

Last school year, the work experience seminar class at Bridges created their own talk show with the students as the stars. In addition to having fun, the show helped provide the students with job and life skills. Read more about their talk show "Fill Your Cup" and see video from an episode.

David Dimmett, President and Chief Executive Officer and other executives from Project Lead the Way (PLTW), as well as local industry leaders visited Coon Rapids High School - Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering this fall for a glimpse of the curriculum in action. PLTW creates engaging classroom environments by empowering students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges.

Champlin Park High School Principal Mike George was recognized for outstanding leadership in an IB school by the Minnesota Association of IB World Schools. George was surprised with the award during an administrator meeting at CPHS Feb. 8 when MNIB executive director Jon Peterson presented him with the award in front of his leadership team at the school. CPHS is one of just seven schools in Minnesota offering the IB career-related program, and one of 20 offering the IB diploma pathway

Anoka High School business teacher Doug Orr was recognized as the 2022 recipient of the Minnesota DECA Honorary Life Membership Award for his 26 years of dedicated service to the organization. The honor is the highest award bestowed upon any individual involved with DECA. Read more about Orr's honor.

Through the Office Depot Start Proud Program, all students at Monroe Elementary: Mathematics, Science and Children's Engineering and Evergreen Park: STEM School of Innovation received backpacks filled with school supplies. Additionally, teachers at Monroe got to go on a shopping spree for classroom supplies thanks to a donation of over $50,000. The donation and events were facilitated by the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF).

Last school year, Andover Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Chelsea Kosel led her class in a monthly giving project that benefited area nonprofit organizations or individuals. To name a few, Andover students raised funds for Children's Minnesota, provided livestock to an area of the world in poverty, and volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army red kettle. Read more about students learning about compassion and kindness through giving.

Every day before school at Roosevelt Middle School, students have the opportunity to stop by the media center to participate in a themed activity. On Nov. 21 students volunteered their time to assemble 100 activity kits that preschool students in the building brought home for the holiday break. Read more about the volunteer opportunity.

The Coon Rapids High School - Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering concert choir performed in front of music educators from around the state at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Midwinter Clinic Feb. 17 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Read more and watch a video of the choir performing.

Students and staff at Champlin Park High School are working towards becoming a Special Olympics Unified Champion School through sports. CPHS participated in Unified bocce ball in the fall, and last February, the Unified team placed second at the Unified state basketball tournament, which took place at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Three high school students earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program in 2021-22. Carter Anderson from Blaine High School was named a National Merit Scholar and Andover High School 's Conor Jolly and Champlin Park High School 's Claire Koch earned National Merit College-sponsored scholarships.

Johnsville Elementary School child nutrition assistant Marilyn Veryzer was named the 2021-22 Employee of the Year by the Minnesota School Nutrition Association. Learn more about the award and Veryzer.

At Brookside Elementary School, the student council led a service project collecting items for The Potato Head Project, a non-profit organization that supports families of micro-preemie babies during their extended NICU stays. Learn more about the cause and see how students collected more than 120 potato head toys.

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