FOCUS - June 3, 2026
Superintendent Search completed: Greg Cole to serve as Anoka-Hennepin superintendent
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board has selected Greg Cole to serve as superintendent of schools for the District, effective July 1, 2026, pending the successful negotiation and approval of an employment contract.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and ready to get to work,” said Cole. “I’m committed to the students, staff, and the communities we serve in Anoka-Hennepin. I live here, have built my career here, and this is the only superintendent job I would ever want.”
Anoka-Hennepin to confer over 3,000 diplomas to the Class of 2026
Commencement ceremonies serve as a source of pride for the students, schools, and the communities they serve. In 2026, more than 3,000 graduates will receive their high school diplomas, marking the completion of their K-12 education in Anoka-Hennepin.
Relive the excitement: Anoka-Hennepin is grateful for the support from community media organizations CTN Coon Rapids, QCTV and North Metro TV for providing live streaming and cable television coverage of district ceremonies.
Livestream video coverage from ceremonies held Sunday, May 31 and Monday, June 1:
- Andover High School: 📺 View coverage. | 📸 Photos. | 🎓 Senior Reflections video.
- Anoka High School: 📺 View coverage. | 📸 Photos. | 🎓 Senior Reflections video.
- Blaine High School: 📺 View coverage. | 📸 Photos. | 🎓 Senior Reflections video.
- Coon Rapids High School: 📺 View coverage. | 📸 Photos. | 🎓 Senior Reflections video.
- Champlin Park High School: 📺 View coverage. | 📸 Photos. | 🎓 Senior Reflections video.
Upcoming graduation ceremonies:
Wednesday, June 3
- Anoka-Hennepin Technical High School - 5 p.m. - Watch live.
- Sandburg Regional High School - 7 p.m. - Watch live.
Meals available through Summer Food Service Program
The Anoka-Hennepin School District will participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) starting Monday, June 15.
The basics:
- Meals will be provided to all children 18 and under at no cost.
- Meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at 15 sites across the district. Meal availability and serving times vary from site to site and are subject to change.
- Children must be present to receive a meal. Meals will be served inside school buildings and must be eaten on site.
- Parents accompanying their children may purchase a meal. Adult breakfast is $4 and lunch is $6. Exact change is required, and no checks will be taken.
✅ Review a list of sites and meal times for more information.
About the program: 🔆 The USDA created the SFSP to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals during summer break, when they may not have access to school breakfast or lunch.
There’s an app for that: 📱 The Minnesota Department of Education and Hunger Impact Partners collaborated on the Free Meals for Kids mobile app to support summer meal programs utilizing the SFSP. Free Meals for Kids helps families and children locate free healthy meals across the metro area and Minnesota.
Guaranteed college Direct Admissions program rolling out this fall
The college search process for Anoka-Hennepin students will get a boost as schools are now participating in Minnesota’s Direct Admissions program, a no-cost, stress-free system that guarantees college admission based on a student’s academic profile. Details available online.
Action of the School Board - May 18, 2026
Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from May 18, 2026.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
Anoka-Hennepin field trip is a learning journey for Commissioner Jett
There’s no question that having first-hand knowledge of what happens in schools helps leaders as they make decisions about their future. A special May 8 visit from Minnesota Education Commissioner Willie Jett put the focus on the programs and people at work in Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
Why it matters: Commissioner Jett has a goal of visiting every Minnesota school district and has been traveling the state to reach his goal. He connected with Hoover principal Minh Strusz to coordinate a visit to Anoka-Hennepin. In a unique connection from the past, Jett served as a teacher coach at Champlin Park High School during the same time that Strusz attended and graduated from the school.
Go deeper: During the visit, Commissioner Jett read an uplifting book to kindergarten students, viewed interactive STEM-H lessons in the Hoover hallways and classrooms, learned of a student-led leadership program to support a safe school culture, and more.
Hoover Elementary for Biomedical, Health Services and Engineering and speciality school was recently awarded the 2026 Minnesota STEM Innovation Award by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association, along with the Science Museum of Minnesota. 📸 View photos from the event.
2026 Athena Award winners recognized for outstanding achievements
🎉 Five female student-athletes — one from each of Anoka-Hennepin’s five traditional high schools — have been recognized for their hard work in the classroom and on the playing field or court.
The Athena Award is given to one senior female student-athlete from each participating school who has distinguished herself in a special individual athletic achievement or superior achievements in one or more sports.
This year’s Anoka-Hennepin Athena Award winners are:
- Avah Shaw, Andover High School.
- Jordyn Jones, Anoka High School.
- Addison Stadden, Blaine High School.
- Sydney Burnevik, Champlin Park High School.
- Kali Barker, Coon Rapids High School.
💻 Read more about the accomplishments of Anoka-Hennepin's 2026 Athena Award winners.
Spring sports and activities round-up
🏆 With the spring sports and activities season wrapping up, here’s a look at who’s heading to state, and how they fared when they performed and played. Also included is information about postseason awards gathered by student-athletes and coaches.
🏃🏃♀️The 2026 MSHSL State Boys and Girls Track and Field meet will be held June 4-6 at St. Michael-Albertville High School. Anoka-Hennepin will be represented by 48 individuals and 15 relay teams.
Andover High School senior earns National Merit Scholarship
🎉 Andover High School senior Emma Yu has earned the highest honors a graduating senior can receive. Yu was named a 2026 National Merit Scholar.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced this year’s winners, who have earned the distinction of being a National Merit Scholar and the $2,500 scholarship that comes with it. Yu is one of just 45 seniors from Minnesota and 2,500 students nationwide to be named a National Merit Scholar. 💻 Read more about the National Merit Scholarship program.
Districtwide track and field day unifies students and fosters inclusion, positivity
Over 200 high school students of all abilities gathered at Champlin Park High School (CPHS) for the first-ever Anoka-Hennepin District Unified Track Meet on Thursday, May 21.
Kindness is contagious: CPHS club advisor, Maia Miller, explained, “Students are very passionate about spreading Unified around the district and want other schools to start their own clubs. One of the ways to show them how was to host an event for them to see how amazing, fun, and easy it is.”
The vision comes to life: Student leaders and special education supporters from Anoka-Hennepin high schools were partnered with students with disabilities from their school to accompany them in the events by ensuring school spirit, belonging and participation. About 100 students from CPHS hosted the event, with approximately 30 additional students from Anoka-Hennepin high schools, including Andover, Anoka, Blaine and Coon Rapids.
📺 View the video story from CCX-Media.
Background: Champlin Park High School (CPHS) was one of four schools in the state to be named a Special Olympics Unified Champion School in 2019, demonstrating commitment to inclusion by meeting 10 standards of excellence; now there are 14. A Special Olympics Unified Champion School is recognized for its inclusive school climate and sense of collaboration, engagement and respect for all student body and staff members.
Driver education students at Andover High School learn to share the road with big rigs
🚚 Thanks to partnerships with the Minnesota Trucking Association and the American Trucking Association, students at Andover High School received an eye-opening experience in the driver’s seat of a semi truck and trailer on May 5.
Members of the American Trucking Association visited Andover High School to teach students about how to safely share the road with semi trucks and large cargo vehicles. 💻 Learn more and view photos from Andover High School.
McKinley Elementary teachers exchange ideas, inspiration with staff from Jamaican school
The first of a two-part experience kicked-off at McKinley Elementary School last week, with students and staff welcoming new teaching colleagues from Jamaica into the classrooms as part of the Jamaican Exchange in Teaching (JET) program. The experience will allow teachers from both McKinley and Jamaica to listen, learn, ask questions and work to understand alternate teaching strategies and practices.
Principal Michael Koenig said, ““Hosting our new friends from St. Ann’s Bay was an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only did they gain valuable insights, but our team learned so much from them in return.” The exchange program coordinated through JET awards the opportunity to teachers through a grant process at no cost to Anoka-Hennepin Schools.
Champlin Park High School students shine in Congressional Art Contest
Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Locally, a trio of Champlin Park High School students earned high honors in the 2026 3rd Congressional District Art contest, sponsored by Rep. Dr. Kelly Morrison.
- Sara Dose - 3rd Place | Title: 'Mother & Child' | Media: Oil on canvas panel | View photos.
- Ava Brouelette - 4th Place | Title: 'Then' (self-portrait of younger self) | Media: Color charcoal portrait | View photos.
- Violet Radenbough - 5th place | Title: Suzan Wandel' (surrealism) | Media: Colored pencil on sulphite. | View photos.
The event featured 60 entries from 14 high schools located in the 3rd Congressional District. Awards were presented for the top five finishers in six categories including paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media and photography. The Congressional Art Competition is an open competition to all students residing in the district of the sponsoring member of congress. The winning artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol building with additional artwork displayed in the offices of Rep. Morrison, with work from the CPHS artists included in a special gallery at school. Jon Wynia, CPHS art teacher, taught, advised and supported the students in the competition.
Just in time for summer: Student-built luxury playhouse now open for bidding
High school students in construction classes across Anoka-Hennepin Schools were busy this spring and a luxury playhouse project is now up for auction. The sale of student-built items cover the cost of materials and support future hands-on learning opportunities.
Putting “U” in Community Education: Recycling ‘bin’fluencers reduce waste together
After learning that items in the school’s blue bins weren’t getting recycled because they were contaminated with liquid and straws, members of the youth service club at Andover High School partnered with Anoka County Recycling and Resource Solutions and set out on a campaign to educate students and staff.
📺 Watch the latest Putting “U” in Community Education video, to learn more about their journey to transform the recycling program in the building and community.
There’s still time to register for youth summer activities
Anoka-Hennepin Community Education offers summer 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, there’s a camp, class or activity for them.
💻 View the summer flyer and follow links to register or go online to browse all available classes.
Vehicle day at Champlin Park High School
📣 Join us this Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the north lot at Champlin Park High School for a morning of exploration and community fun! This event is open to all families and will feature trucks, emergency vehicles and delicious food trucks. 🚚 ☀️
Congratulations to the Metro North Adult Basic Education class of 2026
21 adult learners were recognized for earning their adult diplomas or GEDs during a graduation ceremony in May at the Education Service Center in Anoka.
Family and friends filled the room to honor their perseverance and dedication as the graduates were individually presented with their certificates. These graduates took a nontraditional path, showing incredible determination and resilience as they returned to school to reach their goals.
“I’m not going to lie. It hasn’t been easy,” said graduate Imari Saulter. “Many days I wanted to give up. I’m here today being open because I want the world to know it’s never too late to shoot for the stars and make your dreams a reality.”
