FOCUS on Anoka-Hennepin - Feb. 2026
Six Anoka-Hennepin educators named candidates for Minnesota Teacher of the Year
🎉 Candidates for the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year have been announced, and Anoka-Hennepin has six educators who were nominated.
The teachers are:
- Matt Boelke, Social Studies, Coon Rapids Middle School.
- Holly Boisjolie, Business, Blaine High School.
- Alex Keeney, Technology, Sunrise Elementary School.
- Scott Maki, Special Education, Blaine High School.
- Rebecca Maxey Thomas, American Sign Language, Blaine High School.
- Jamie Weisz, Special Education, Champlin Park High School.
The six Anoka-Hennepin teachers are among 128 candidates for the award statewide. 💻 Visit the district website to learn more about the award program.
School Board holds annual organizational meeting, new co-chairs elected
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board held its first meeting of 2026 on Monday, Jan. 12. The agenda for the first School Board meeting of the year serves as an organizational meeting, where the board selects officers and receives appointments for committee assignments, along with conducting annual business functions.
Co-chair model continues: Board leadership will continue under a co-chair model for 2026 with Directors Dr. Michelle Langenfeld (District Five) and Linda Hoekman (District One) serving in the co-chair role, taking over from board members Kacy Deschene (District Five) and Zach Arco (District Two), who served in that capacity over the past two years.
Officer positions: Matt Audette (District Four) will serve as treasurer and Jeff Simon (District Six) will continue to serve as clerk.
Contract approved: School Board approves new two-year contract with teachers
Key provisions: The working agreement addresses increases in salary and health insurance benefits for teachers and was ratified by AHEM members with a 72% member approval. The contract represents a 8.55% total package increase and covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year. 📰 Read the full article to see the approved terms and conditions.
Tips for parents and caregivers navigating community conversations and concerns with young people
As immigration enforcement (ICE) actions have emerged across the state and in our communities, education and child care professionals are aware that some children are afraid of being separated from their parents and other loved ones.
It can be challenging for parents to communicate with children about things that happen in our world that may prompt questions and/or concerns. While we can’t prevent our children from learning or hearing about events that are covered in the media or discussed in our communities, the way that we model our reaction is key to helping children learn how to deal with difficult situations throughout their entire life.
📖 Review tips for guiding conversations with children, from information compiled by the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health. (Available in English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Somali, Karen, Portuguese.)
💗 What you can do: As a parent/guardian, there are a variety of things you can do to recognize fears and concerns while helping children feel safe. Read an article on the district website for tips.
Need more support? Families may reach out to their school or review more resources online at ahschools.us/immigration.
Join our team! Anoka-Hennepin to host hiring event on Feb. 11
💼 The Anoka-Hennepin School District is hosting an in-person hiring event for operational and student support positions on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 3-5 p.m. at the Educational Service Center located at 2727 N Ferry St. in Anoka. Enter through Door 7.
Join us to learn more about employment opportunities and have a same-day, on-site interview. Participants are strongly encouraged to begin filling out applications in advance at jobs.ahschools.us and come prepared to interview with hiring managers.
Everyone plays a role in student achievement; you can make a difference — apply today! 💻 Visit jobs.ahschools.us or call 763-506-JOBS for more information. ❗️Learn more about the hiring event.
Action of the School Board - January 26, 2026
Action of the School Board provides brief summaries of Anoka-Hennepin School Board meetings. View the latest Action of the School Board from January 26, 2026.
For agendas, meetings and minutes visit ahschools.us/schoolboard.
Student-athletes celebrate signing letters of intent on National Signing Day
🎉 Students from all five Anoka-Hennepin high schools (Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids) participated in events on February 4, marking National Signing Day. The regular signing period for NCAA Division I and II football began on February 4, while student-athletes outside of football began signing letters of intent on Nov. 12, 2025, and can continue to sign until August 1.
Congratulations to all of these student-athletes and to those who will sign letters of intent later. Anoka-Hennepin is proud! 💻 Read more and see a list of signees on the district website.
Ten student-athletes recognized for their efforts in sports and the arts
Ten Anoka-Hennepin student-athletes have been nominated for the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Triple A Award for the 2025-26 school year.
Each year, the MSHSL honors student-athletes who excel in Academics (3.0 GPA or better), Athletics (at least one MSHSL-sponsored athletic activity) and Arts (MSHSL-sponsored debate, one-act play, speech, visual arts, and instrumental or vocal music). The award is given to one senior female and one senior male in the state.
The Anoka-Hennepin nominees for the Triple “A” Award are:
- Andover High School: Alison Oswell and Wilson Lindberg
- Anoka High School: Sadie Heger and Wesley Anderson
- Blaine High School: Kayden Larson and Jack Zellmer
- Champlin Park High School: Sydney Burnevik and Nicholas Keenan
- Coon Rapids High School: Tennyson Smit and Jack Bridenstine
💻 Visit the district website to learn more about the recognition.
Hoover Elementary School to receive 2026 Minnesota STEM Innovation Award
🏆 Hoover Elementary School for Biomedical, Health Sciences and Engineering is the recipient of the 2026 Minnesota STEM Innovation Award by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA) in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota. School administration will accept the award at the next MESPA conference scheduled to be held tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 5.
🫀🔬💞 Hoover received this honor for a "real-world" learning initiative where fourth-grade students partnered with the American Red Cross to plan and support a community blood drive. It’s an impactful example of how students were able to harness a unique learning opportunity while incorporating it with making a difference for others in our communities.
Hoover Elementary offers a specialty school curriculum focus on Biomedical, Health Sciences and Engineering, one of 12 magnet and specialty school options offered in Anoka-Hennepin.
Monroe students meet a loved author, receive books to kick off I Love to Read month
💗A high-energy school-wide celebration held as a kick-off to I Love to Read Month at Monroe Elementary School in Brooklyn Park, which included a surprise ending and a special parting gift -much to the delight of students.
Why it matters: Building excitement and student interest in young readers supports the school’s deep commitment to delivering strong literacy outcomes for students. Anoka-Hennepin has identified improved reading in all grades as a district strategic priority, and Monroe took a leadership role in the district’s implementation of a new reading curriculum and instructional practices based on the Science of Reading principles.
Action-packed: At the special event, students not only met local author VT Bidania as she launched her new book A Year Without Home, the 200 fourth- and fifth-grade students were also gifted copies of the book and the K-3 students received copies of Bidania’s other book series, Astrid and Apollo and Extraordinary Elliana for their classroom libraries.
📖 Read more about the Monroe event.
📺 Watch the video story of the event by CCX News.
📸 View photos from the event.
Creativity Festival field trip ignites learning, develops skills for elementary students
Over 400 Anoka-Hennepin elementary students in grades 3-5 attended the 2026 Creativity Festival, an interactive field trip that challenges students' creativity, strengthens their problem-solving skills and ignites imagination. The event was held at the University of Minnesota on January 13-14.
Why it matters: Providing enrichment opportunities to develop imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills in upper-level elementary students provides motivation and skill development that lead to school and personal success.
Go deeper: Students worked side-by-side with STEM and arts professionals through a series of breakout sessions designed to meet the objectives of the event, which included everything from building a sustainable farm design, a wet weather bridge design, crop art, dance theater and more. 💻 Read more about the event.
Jackson Middle School hosts family STEM night
🚀 Jackson Middle School - A Specialty School for Math and Science hosted its first-ever JMS Family STEM Night on January 13. Students welcomed their families throughout the building to experiment, calculate, and investigate together.
🔬 Families explored the science behind popcorn by testing their sense of smell and learning how to make a homemade microwave popcorn bag. Students programmed computer robots to simulate picking up trash in the ocean and created pie charts showing the color frequencies in a bag of Skittles.
Oak View Middle School student wraps annual blanket drive with kindness opportunities for student learning
⛄Temperatures have been cold, but service efforts at Oak View Middle School (OVMS) have wrapped others in warmth and kindness this winter. Seventh-grader, Addyson "Addy" Dombrovski, is warming hearts and lifting spirits with help from fellow students and young people in the community through a blanket drive - now in its sixth year.
Addy has led a blanket drive each winter since 2019, encouraging young people in schools, clubs and community groups to connect and support her efforts. Approximately 450 students in sixth-grade health classes at OVMS assembled blankets in health class, in addition to seventh-grade students who participated during their advisory period. The project has become a community effort led, involving scout troops, local residents, and students from nearly a dozen metro-area schools, including Andover, Anoka and Blaine high schools. In total, Addy was able to gather over 725 blankets made by young people in the community by the end of 2025, bringing the total to 2,738 blankets donated since she began. 📰 Read the full story online.
Preschool information sessions coming in March
Do you have a child that is ready for preschool in the fall? Join Anoka-Hennepin Schools Preschool on Thursday, March 12 to learn more about the options available for 2026-27 preschool classes. Sessions are free, but registration is required.
- When: Thursday, March 12 at 11:30 a.m. (virtual), 4:30 or 6:30 p.m. (in-person)
- Where: Virtual or at the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Educational Service Center, located at 2727 N. Ferry Street, Anoka.
Pre-K to Grade 3 educators offer Screens and Stress sessions for parents and caregivers of young children
Parents and caregivers of children ages 3 to 8 will explore how screen time can impact young children’s emotions, behavior and anxiety levels in a early learning session February 12 focused on 'Screens and Stress: Managing Anxiety in the Digital Age.' Explore how screen time can impact young children’s emotions, behavior and anxiety levels; and learn effective, age-appropriate strategies for creating healthy digital habits. Two sessions available.
Register for youth classes and activities through Community Ed
⚾️ 🏊♀️ If you’re looking for a fun class, enrichment activity or athletic opportunity for your child through grade 8, check out Community Ed!
Youth classes, activities, aquatics and middle school sports are offered after-school, in the evening and sometimes on the weekends. It’s a great opportunity to give your student time to learn and make new friends outside the traditional school day.
Need a night out? Community Ed to host Cupid’s Shuffle adult event
❤ Find a sitter and join Community Ed for the Cupid’s Shuffle — an adult learning event offering dancing, music and endless fun! Grab your sweetheart or a group of friends and hit the dance floor.💃🏻🕺🏽
📅 Friday, February 20 at The Tavern at Green Haven in Anoka.
✅ Register for Cupid’s Shuffle (Register by Feb. 11. Space is limited.)
