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Growing our own
State and District programs support aspiring teachers
Growing our own Efforts aim to expand and diversify the educator workforce
E
ducational research is clear. The most important school-based factor on student achievement is the effectiveness of the teacher. Yet reports show that Minnesota and other states are experiencing a teacher shortage in public schools. A survey by the Minnesota School Boards Association revealed more than 500 teaching vacancies existed in the Twin Cities metro area in early August. Although Mounds View Public Schools is fully staffed with highly qualified teachers, finding substitute teachers remains a challenge. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, numerous national studies also show that all students benefit from a racially diverse teaching workforce. But in Minnesota, only 6% of the teacher workforce identify as teachers of color; while 37% of students identify as students of color. In response, the state is promoting a few practices to expand and diversify the educator workforce. A “Grow Your Own” approach is among them.
On the cover:
Mounds View alumna Gabrielle Wiest returned to teach first grade at Bel Air Elementary School, thanks in part to the District’s “Grow Your Own” program.
Teach Minnesota
BEN OJIKA
Based on a national model that has trained nearly 40,000 teachers in 25 states, Teach Minnesota is one of the state’s first alternative routes to teacher certification. The one-year program for elementary school teachers and two-year program for special education teachers requires the successful completion of an eight-week summer program. Participants are then eligible to teach on a Tier 2 license in a public school. Once they complete all program and state requirements, participants will be recommended for a Tier 3 license. Most Mounds View Public Schools teachers hold a Tier 3 or Tier 4 license. This fall, Mounds View Public Schools is among 15 school districts in the state to partner with Teach Minnesota and has three participants in District schools.
• Irondale High School alumnus, 2013 • Bachelor’s degree, corrections from Minnesota State - Mankato
Editors
Superintendent
Megan McKeen Colin Sokolowski
Chris Lennox
Designer Susan Abbott
Photographers J.J. Killins Jolesch Enterprises Lifetouch Megan McKeen
2023 School Board Shauna Bock Heidi Danielson Jim DeMay Diane Glasheen Yolanda Magee Jonathan Weinhagen Sandra Westerman
School Talk is published by Mounds View Public Schools, Independent School District 621.
Para asistencia en traducciones ó ayuda como intérprete, por favor llama 651-724-2854.
Send correspondence to School Talk editor, 4570 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, MN 55126 or email schooltalk@mvpschools.org.
Yog xa tau kev pab thiab hais ua lus Hmoob thov hu rau 651-724-0396.
Connect with us:
Edgewood Middle School, special education teacher
Haddi aad ubaahantahay faahfaahin dheerad ah ama turjumaad, fadlan kala 651-262-4577. Visit us:
Why teaching? “I was a behavior manager at Highview Middle School, and the assistant principal suggested I look at the Teach Minnesota program. I gave it little thought because I’ve never wanted to be a teacher. But he provided strong words of encouragement and told me how much he already believes in my future success. It was an uncomfortable choice but I decided to proceed.” Future plans? “I’m surrounded by an excellent team at Edgewood, and the support is amazing. So I’m going to do my best this school year, and I hope to return to the same role next fall.”
Teaching by the numbers in Mounds View Public Schools of teachers hold a Tier 3 % 98 teaching license or higher.
65%
PAUL BOSNEAG
Irondale High School, special education teacher
of teachers have a master’s degree.
Teachers must complete
125 certification hours every 5 years to renew their licenses.
PARUL GOYAT
Pike Lake Education Center, kindergarten teacher
• Bachelor’s degrees in commerce and education, master’s degrees in commerce and philosophy Why teaching? “I am from India, and I was a teacher there. I moved to the United States eight years ago, and I wanted to work as a teacher here too. So, I worked as a special education paraprofessional for three years to understand the culture of
schools. Last year, I thought of taking a step forward to teach, and I came across the Teach Minnesota program. So, I enrolled myself in this program.”
• Bachelor’s degree in business management and administration, University of Phoenix Why teaching? “I had a career in business. I found a para role that was supposed to be a placeholder until something else came along. But each time something came along, I found a reason to stay in schools. I asked where I could make the biggest impact, and the Teach Minnesota program was one that I found interesting.” Future plans? “I am an Irondale Knight. I plan to be a part of this community, this school, this neighborhood for a very long time! I can’t see myself anywhere else.”
Future plans? “My plan is to continue teaching in the same school and same grade once I have completed my program and have my Tier 3 license. I love to teach!”
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Alumni teachers returning to the classroom Creating its own “Grow Your Own” program, Mounds View Public Schools is guiding aspiring teachers on a path from high school through college and into teaching careers. Using money from the state earmarked for this effort, the District awards alumni from Irondale High School and Mounds View High School with a $2,000 scholarship for each year of their undergraduate program. To date, three candidates have completed the program and returned to teach in Mounds View Public Schools. One of the three, Gabrielle Wiest, continues to work in the District. After graduating in 2018 from Mounds View High School, she earned degrees in psychology and elementary education from Hamline University. Wiest began student teaching at Bel Air Elementary School in 2022, and the following year she became a full-time, first-grade teacher there. “Growing up, I did not have teachers who looked like me,” Wiest says. “Returning to Mounds View was an opportunity to give back to the district that taught me so much.”
Coming soon... Soon, Bel Air’s Gabrielle Wiest won’t be the only active teacher in Mounds View Public Schools to have completed the District’s “Grow Your Own” program. Her brother and another alumna are pursuing education degrees with the intent to return to the District to teach full-time after graduation.
JOSIAH WIEST ’20 Mounds View High School • Studying communication arts and literacy for grades 5-12 at Hamline University • Graduating fall 2023 • Will student teach in Mounds View Public Schools in January 2024 • Plans to teach in a high school, earn a master’s degree in education and pursue a second educator license in special education “ All children deserve to see representations of themselves in everything, including their curriculum and schooling experience. I have had so many amazing experiences in the district, and I couldn’t imagine starting my teaching career anywhere else.”
EMILLIA AADLAND ’22 Mounds View High School • Studying communication arts and literature for grades 5-12 at Bethel University • Field experience at DaVinci Academy • Graduation expected in fall 2025 • Plans to teach English in either middle school or high school and someday earn a graduate degree
“Now that I am a teacher, I am able to show students with skin tones like my own that it is possible to become a teacher,” says Bel Air teacher and Mounds View alumna Gabrielle Wiest. “It is an honor to teach students and watch them grow each day.”
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“ I have been in this district since I was in kindergarten, and it’s super special to have the opportunity to return to Mounds View and shape the next generation. When students have role models they can relate to, it can help them to believe in themselves and prove that they can achieve their dreams.”
SCHOOL BOARD Voters re-elect incumbents and add one new member On Election Day, voters in Mounds View Public Schools returned Heidi Danielson, Jim DeMay and Jonathan Weinhagen to the School Board. Residents also elected first-time candidate Alissa Daire Nelson. Each will serve a four-year term. Election results (not canvassed at press time) for all candidates are below:
2023 School Board
New School Board member Alissa Daire Nelson will start her four-year term in January.
Alissa Daire Nelson
8,959
15.50%
Heidi Caccamo
4,730
8.18%
Heidi Danielson
9,503
16.44%
Andre M. Koen
1,543
2.67%
Jonathan Weinhagen
8,973
15.53%
Jim DeMay
9,109
15.76%
Rich Priore
862
1.49%
Jon VanOeveren
762
1.32%
Paul Wikstrom
4,710
8.15%
Mark Kelliher
4,462
7.72%
Art Mills
4,100
7.09%
Write-in
81
0.14%
Diane Glasheen, Yolanda Magee, Shauna Bock, Sandra Westerman, Jonathan Weinhagen, Heidi Danielson and Jim DeMay.
Certifying property taxes Ramsey County mailed Truth in Taxation notices in midNovember. Mounds View Public Schools will discuss the budget and the final property tax levy for 2024 at a 6 p.m. focused forum scheduled before its regularly scheduled 7 p.m. Board meeting on December 12, when it will certify final property taxes. The proposed taxes for 2024 total $63,688,606.20, which is an increase of $2,780,069.81, or about 4.56% increase over the final taxes payable 2023. For more information, please visit the Budgets and Finance page at mvpschools.org.
Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
Watch a brief video illustrating the role of the School Board in Mounds View Public Schools. Visit mvpschools.org/board.
Technology audit Each year, the School Board approves a series of goals and related activities on which the Superintendent and Executive Team will focus their work. This is known as the District Operational Plan (DOP). This fall, the Board heard a report from the administration regarding the progress of the technology audit goal designed to identify strengths, gaps and make recommendations for improvement. The audit will include a review of student and staff devices, infrastructure, applications, data use and management, policies, procedures and operational practices and compare our findings against recognized standards for best practice.
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EDUCATION FOUNDATION The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation works in collaboration with Mounds View Schools District leadership to identify programs that require funding to advance opportunities for students throughout the Mounds View District. For more information on the Foundation visit mvsef.org.
MVSEF celebrates Rock the School House The Mounds View Schools Education Foundation hosted this year’s Rock the School House fundraiser at the North Oaks Golf Club on Saturday, September 16. For more than ten years, this gathering has been the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation’s flagship event to support initiatives impacting all students and schools in the Mounds View district. Through the collective support of attendees, sponsors, auction donors, foundation board members, District staff and event volunteers, more than $70,000 was raised to assist current initiatives around school-owned musical instruments, family and community building events, next generation technology in the classroom, career and college exploration resources and the financial management of the district’s Equity Promise Scholarship Program.
Photo credits: Jennifer Getsay, Lars Leafblad
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TEAM MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEL AIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Memory Heille joined Bel Air as
interim associate principal after serving elementary schools in Minneapolis Public Schools for 15 years. She held roles as a classroom teacher and most recently as a differentiation instructional specialist, where she analyzed student data and planned for differentiated core instruction, interventions and opportunities for enrichment. ISLAND LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL William (Bill) Kuendig is the new
principal at Island Lake, succeeding Kristi Abbott, who became principal of Turtle Lake Elementary School. He served Osseo Area Schools for eight years, most recently as principal of Oak View Elementary School in Maple Grove. Bill previously served Osseo as an assistant principal. SUNNYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Andrea Johnson is the new principal at
Rachel Bigelow transitioned from dean at
Turtle Lake to associate principal. For six years, she served Rush City Public Schools as an elementary special education teacher. Rachel also has also worked as a high school theater director, substitute teacher and paraprofessional. Kevin Jachymowski is serving as interim
associate principal at Turtle Lake while former associate principal Renee Carlson is on leave for the year. He has served Turtle Lake since 2016 in a variety of roles including as a dean, assistant to the lead building administrator, teacher and summer school coordinator. IRONDALE HIGH SCHOOL Staci Souhan transitioned from her role
as principal at Turtle Lake to serving as an associate principal at Irondale. She has 18 years of experience in education including roles as principal, summer school administrator and teacher.
Sunnyside, succeeding Cori Thompson who became a principal on special assignment for educational equity. She joined Sunnyside as an associate principal last year. Andrea has served the District for 17 years as a curriculum and instruction coordinator, classroom teacher, intervention teacher, instructional support facilitator and as a middle school literacy coach.
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY
Kristel Linn joins Sunnyside as
Carmen Bender joins the student support
associate principal after serving as an assistant principal in Anoka-Hennepin Schools. She has previously served as a special education coordinator and early childhood principal/program administrator in Elk River. Kristel also has been a special education teacher, case manager, behavior manager and paraprofessional in districts across the state.
team as a Spanish cultural liaison. She has been a special education paraprofessional in the District for 10 years, and is also a certified medical interpreter. Born in Columbia, she holds degrees from the Universidad Los Libertadores Cartagena, University Autonoma of Barcelona and a certificate of Translation and Interpreting from the University of Minnesota.
TURTLE LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Felicia Galvan joins the student support team
Kristi Abbott joined Turtle Lake as
principal. She had served as principal of Island Lake for the past four years. Kristi joined the District in 2015 as the associate principal at Turtle Lake.
Cori Thompson transitioned from her role
as principal at Sunnyside Elementary School to principal on special assignment across the District. Her work is focused on supporting educational equity. Cori served as Sunnyside principal for the past three years. CULTURAL LIAISONS
as an American Indian cultural liaison. As a 2017 Irondale High School graduate, her passion for youth development was ignited by her previous roles building connections with Indigenous non-profit organizations across the metro area. FALL 2023
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MAKING THE GRADE Mounds View Public Schools uses a number of assessments to measure student performance and progress. Whether the results come from state-mandated testing, District measurement systems or national rankings, Mounds View continues to hold a place among the highest-performing school districts in the state and in the nation.
KINDERGARTEN READINESS RESULTS SPRING 2022
SPRING 2023
300
262 students 77%
250
200
192 students 73%
150
100
Programs and services will be in place at all schools to ensure that race, gender, class and disability will not predict students’ success.
Students’ academic performance will not fall into patterns identifiable by factors such as race, ethnicity, English language proficiency, socio-economic status and disability.
The school that a student attends will not be the predictor of his or her success in school.
70 students 27%
78 students 23%
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Mounds View PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The District’s Equity Promise requires that programs and services are in place to ensure that race, gender, class and disability are not predictors of students’ success. The Equity Promise serves as the framework for the World’s Best Workforce strategic plan which focuses on five goals for continued student improvement. 1. All students meet school-readiness goals. 2. All third-grade students achieve grade-level literacy. 3. Close achievement gaps for all student groups. 4. All students graduate from high school. 5. All students attain college and career readiness.
0 Social-emotional benchmarks
Social-emotional benchmarks
Emerging
Accomplished
These kindergarten readiness results represent pre-kindergarten students, age four, enrolled in Mounds View Early Childhood programs.
2
All third-grade students achieve grade-level literacy.
Student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment for reading provides an annual check of thirdgrade literacy progress. At Mounds View, 50.8% of students are proficient (meet or exceed the standards) on this exam,
STUDENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRESS INDICATORS
1
All students meet school-readiness goals.
The District is in its 10th year of providing a comprehensive all-day kindergarten literacy and numeracy program. To ensure that all students are ready for school, the District focuses on outreach to families to provide programming to children as early as possible and facilitates transitions for families and students from Early Childhood programs to kindergarten. Key social-emotional benchmarks for school readiness include students’ abilities to regulate emotions and behaviors, establish and sustain positive relationships and participate cooperatively and constructively in group settings.
Class of 2022 summary
98% 84% 56%
participated in college credit-earning courses. earned college credits. earned 1 semester or more of college credit (12 or more credits).
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students earned an Associate of Arts Degree upon high school graduation.
which is indicative of students who are on track with their development of literacy skills. During the 2022-23 school year, 98.9% of students partici pated in this assessment. The District’s Read Well by Third Grade plan demonstrates our commitment to monitoring students’ progress in the area of literacy beginning in kindergarten. The plan can be viewed at mvpschools.org/readingwell.
3
lose achievement gaps for all C student groups.
4
All students graduate from high school.
Students graduating from Mounds View Public Schools will be prepared to pursue higher education or to enter the workforce. The rigorous course offerings prepare students for their next step in life. While many students (72%) choose careers that require additional education, those who elect to join the workforce directly out of high school (19%) are more likely to find greater opportunities and higher earnings with a high school diploma, which is one of the foundations for success. Class of 2020
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
ALL Students
96.7
97.8
97.6
White Students
97.6
98.1
96.1
Students of Color
95.4
97.7
98.7
Aspirations gap – We support the hopes and ambitions of each student.
Students receiving educational benefits
93.7
94.5
95.4
Expectations gap – We meet the expectations of each student and their families as they pursue
Students receiving EL services
86.0
92.3
93.8
Students receiving SE services
90.8
92.5
95.2
To address achievement gaps, Mounds View Public Schools believes schools must first address the gaps that exist in the aspirations students have for their future, the opportunities available to them and the expectations every family has for their school.
college and career readiness.
Opportunity gap – We provide each student
with access to rigorous coursework that prepares them for opportunities of their choice after high school.These are measured through student support before and during the course, student participation and student success in earning college credit.
Progress on Graduation Rates
Reported rates are based on percentage of students who graduate in exactly 4 years + the percent of students who continue according to their Personalized Plan.
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All students attain college and career readiness.
Thanks to a grant from the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation, Mounds View Public Schools was the first school district in the state to make sure every high school junior has a free opportunity to take the ACT on-site during the school day. This began in 2011 and ensures equal opportunity and access to the test. To date, close to 98% of students participate in the exam, and Mounds View Public Schools students continue to exceed both the national and state test score average.
$4,258,750 in tuition savings (calculated based on $250 per credit) Cost savings for students of color:
$1,549,750
Cost savings for students who qualify for educational benefits:
$549,750
GRADUATING CLASS ACT SCORES Class of
District
Minnesota
Nation
2021
23.6
21.6
20.3
2022
21.9
21.0
19.8
2023
21.9
20.8
19.5
Scores represent tests taken during District and national testing.
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AROUND THE DISTRICT Students travel abroad Four high school students traveled to Southern Germany and Northern Switzerland when They visited Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Munich, Dachau, Fuessen, Vaduz, Lucerne, Freiburg and Heidelberg. Students toured a variety of art, technology and history museums, castles and churches and also natural sights, including rivers and gardens.
Summer band Nearly 600 band students participated in the District’s summer band program. Students entering fifth-grade learned the very basics of their instruments, while students entering grades 6-9 were able to play with the full middle school band. The four-week program concluded with the Grand Finale Concert in the Irondale High School auditorium in August. Participants also enjoyed an opportunity to perform at Valleyfair the next day.
Summer band students perform at Valleyfair in August.
Save the date: Chalkboard Capers
Teacher Jill Hallenberger and students Otto Coleman, Colette Whalen, Riley Maurer and Klara Mink stand in front of the gardens at Linderhof Castle during a summer trip to Europe.
Summer orchestra Despite the drizzly weather, 270 fifth- and sixth-grade summer orchestra participants performed the National Anthem at the September 26 Twins game at Target Field.
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The Chalkboard Capers Variety Shows will take place April 3-6, 2024, at Mounds View High School. Chalkboard Capers is an annual variety show put on by the Mounds View Education Association. The show includes teachers and other educators singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and acting in skits. Join us for a fun-filled show that raises money for scholarships for our District seniors. Chalkboard Capers has raised more than $300,000 for scholarships since its inception in 1984. More information will be shared in the spring, but add it to your calendar now!
Music of the Knight
Walk, Bike and Roll to School
Irondale High School hosted its 31st annual Music of the Knight event in September. The Irondale Marching Knights hosted 11 bands from around the region, as well as Marching Knights alumni.
Island Lake Elementary School students and families came together for its annual Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day in October. The event was created to encourage kids to be active, learn to respect the environment and also bring awareness to pedestrian safety.
Orange Shirt Day
Bee hotel Summer school students in Ms. Haugen’s class created a “Bee Hotel” to help encourage natural pollinators in the Turtle Lake garden.
Highview Middle School staff members wore orange to observe a National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools on September 29. The holiday encourages Native communities and their allies to wear orange in order to honor boarding school survivors and call for accountability of the Federal Indian Boarding School policies.
Annual notices Read important annual notices at mvpschools.org/annualnotices.
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AROUND THE DISTRICT Friendly rivals Mounds View Irondale youth hockey teammates became friendly rivals at the fifth-grade District track meet in June.
Early College data project Most educators and parents see value in the District’s Early College programs, especially in how they help students transition to postsecondary education. The District turned to the Carlson School of Management to find out just how valuable the program is. Using de-identified data, students worked to find out which college prep courses have the biggest impact on high school students’ future success after graduation. “This was a tremendous way for us to get specific data about the work we’ve been doing,” says Angie Peschel, executive director of curriculum and instruction at the District. “Being able to better inform our students of these outcomes will go a long way in helping students prepare for their college careers.”
Josie Nelson (Island Lake), Nellie Walseth (Turtle Lake) and Haley Schmidt (Bel Air).
Senior Sunrise Each year, seniors gather at the start of the school year to watch the sunrise from Mustang Stadium. Then in June, seniors will gather again in Mustang Stadium at dusk to watch the sun set on their high school experience. The celebration is organized and run by Mounds View Student Council.
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Robotics team collects donations In August, the Irondale KnightKrawler Robotics team helped Ralph Reeder Food Shelf collect donations along the New Brighton Stockyard Days parade route. Food shelf staff Lisa Baker and Sue Peake acted as the parade Grand Marshals.
Mounds View student nabs rare healthcare internship Mounds View High School senior Jerry Floeder participated in the University of Minnesota ASCEND healthcare internship program, a rare opportunity for a high school student. The 10-month, paid M-ASCEND program aims to increase the diversity of cancer research and care workforce by engaging students in career development and opportunities. The internship gives students the opportunity to engage with university facilities on the various science pathways available to them. The program focuses on college readiness, mentorship, cancer research and career options and healthcare career pathways.
ALUMNI UPDATE First Black Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Mounds View High School alumna Natalie Hudson (class of 1975) was named the Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice. She is the first Black Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice in state history. The chief justice runs the state’s highest court and heads the judicial branch across 87 counties and the appellate courts.
Irondale student leader completes summer internship Irondale High School senior Liliana Triviski completed a summer internship through the Bank of America Student Leader program at the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Since 2004, the Bank of America Student Leader program connects high-achieving teens from diverse backgrounds to a paid summer internship with a local nonprofit organization, helping them gain employment experience and critical job skills. She also traveled to Washington, D.C. on an all-expense paid week-long leadership experience. Liliana is also the president and founder of Irondale High School’s Feminist Literature Book Club and a member of Irondale High School’s Student Council and Government.
Photo courtesy of Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune.
Professional puzzler Mounds View High School alumna Sarah Schuler (class of 2014) recently competed at World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship and came in second place. She’s been completing puzzles since she was a teen, and recently left her job in IT to pursue puzzling full-time. Schuler can complete a 500-piece puzzle in an average of 55 minutes.
Paying it forward Generous donations have led to a scholarship and awards program to honor Frankie Wang, a 2019 Mounds View High School graduate who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Family and friends of Frankie raised more than $40,000 for Mounds View High School programs. The new programs include a need-based football scholarship, instrument fund, a Sportsman Award and Social Service Award.
Photo courtesy of WCCO.
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WITH HONORS Highest ACT score The following students received a composite score of 36 during last school year’s ACT administration, the highest score that can be achieved on the exam.
College Board National Recognition Three Irondale High School students earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These programs celebrate students hard work in high school and showcase their strong academic performance. The honors are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent. To be eligible, students must Justin Gahona have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and PSAT assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state, among other requirements. Sabri Abdusalam, National African American Recognition Award (not pictured) Justin Gahona, National Hispanic Recognition Award
Maya Arnold Mounds View
Maeve Edgar Mounds View
Caleb Hill Irondale
Reesa Venterea, National Hispanic Recognition Award
Reesa Venterea
Best High Schools Jack Ohmann Mounds View (class of 2023)
Zoey Tenenbaum Irondale
Michael Wang Mounds View
Irondale and Mounds View high schools have been included in the top 10% of U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of the best high schools in Minnesota. Out of 400 Minnesota schools, Irondale and Mounds View were listed at 30 and 12, respectively.
2024 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
11 students named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program Mounds View Public Schools is proud to announce 11 semifinalists for the 2024 National Merit Scholarship program. They join about 16,000 students nationally competing for scholarships in this highly competitive program. Semifinalists were selected based on the PSAT scores and other indicators of high achievement. Finalists will be announced in February.
Brian Kim, Mounds View
Laura Hansen, Mounds View
Katherine Schneider, Mounds View
Philip Jepko, Mounds View
Daniel Sung, Mounds View
Elena Miller, Mounds View
Michael Wang, Mounds View
Mia Nordberg, Irondale
Siri Wilkes, Mounds View
Brady Officer, Mounds View
Kylie Yu, Mounds View
Sophia Ohmann, Mounds View
Commended students: Maya Arnold, Mounds View
Geo Beach, Irondale
Britta Bramsen, Mounds View
Victor Cai, Mounds View
Joseph Bryntesen, Mounds View
Maeve Edgar, Mounds View
Xander Daire, Irondale
Ellen Guo, Mounds View
Elijah Englund, Irondale
Caleb Hill, Irondale
Wyatt Erwin, Irondale Maya Gjelhaug, Mounds View
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Anna Presseller, Irondale Daniela Senanayake, Mounds View Benjamin Starr, Mounds View Cayden Stoner, Mounds View Erika Turkington, Mounds View Hannah Young, Irondale Allison Yu, Mounds View Echo Zhai, Mounds View
College Board Honor Roll Irondale High School made the AP College Board’s Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year. Irondale received the bronze-level award for developing an Advanced Placement (AP) program that creates a college-going culture and gives students opportunities to earn college credit and to maximize their college outcomes. Last school year, 46% of Irondale students took an Advanced Placement class.
World Series competition Jaycie Helmer, sixth-grader at
Chippewa Middle School, placed second in the 11-12 year old girl bracket for the title of Pitch-Hitand Run Competition during game two of the MLB World Series in Dallas. Jaycie won an allexpense paid trip and competed against four top competitors in the country. This is the second time she has competed; last year, she tied for first place.
TEACHER HONORS Amazon Future Engineer program Highview Middle School Innovation teacher Eddie Chamberlain was selected to become a Teacher Ambassador for the Amazon Future Engineer program. The highly selective program chose 50 teachers throughout the country to join. The goal of the program is to reduce obstacles between students and educators and encourage them to join engineering and STEM careers.
Teacher named Reader’s Choice Mounds View High School math teacher Aaron Willford was named the Best Teacher in the Shoreview Press Reader’s Choice “Best Of” contest. “I think that building that relationship in the class and seeing them thrive outside of class, overall enhances your relationship with students,” he said.
School Champion award Genysys Works has awarded Irondale High School teacher Angela Zappa the School Champion of the Year. Genesys Works creates career pathways and opportunities for youth while helping employers fill critical talent gaps within their companies. They provide skills training, counseling and paid internships for high school seniors who currently reside in underserved communities and lack access to the resources needed to achieve sustained economic mobility.
South Korea Fellowship Edgewood social studies teacher Zoe Kourajian was one of 28 teachers selected as a Discover Korea Teacher Fellow through the World History Digital Education Foundation (WHDE). She visited Korea this summer as part of the program. “The Discover Korea Research Trip was handsdown the best learning opportunity I have ever participated in as a teacher. I am eager to bring these stories back to my classroom, helping my students experience history through oral histories, primary sources and photos of where this history unfolded,” said Zoe. FALL 2023
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SPORTS UPDATE
IRONDALE
New state record Senior Juriad Hughes claimed a new state record for the long jump in June with a distance of 24-11, breaking the prior record set in 1982. Juriad then earned a State Championship and eventually National and U-20 Pan-Am Games titles.
New school record Junior diver Lulu Semakula broke a 43-year-old school record, previously set in 1981. The score of 300 is now the second highest score in the state.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Holt, Star Tribune
School visit
Walk for Thought
Paige Bueckers, Hopkins High School alumna, Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award (21'), and current UConn Huskies Guard, stopped by Irondale High School in July to speak with student athletes about striving for excellence. Brueckers is very influential in youth sports, with more than 1 million Instagram followers. Star Tribune reporter Jim Paulsen proclaimed her a "once-in-a-generation talent" in 2018.
Participants from Irondale High School’s dance and cross country teams attended the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance’s “Walk for Thought,” at Long Lake Park in September. They attended to cheer on the walkers at the event and support the cause, which raised nearly $25,000. Funds raised at the Walk for Thought help ensure that Minnesotans affected by brain injury can connect to critical support services.
Get your tickets online
Irondale Knights on Twitter @GoIrondale facebook.com/ IrondaleHighSchool For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.mvpschools.org/irondale.
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Ticket sales for all home athletic contests are now online. Purchases can be made on a smartphone, tablet or computer. Learn more and purchase tickets online or download the Hometown Ticket app here: mvpschools.org/tickets.
Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store.
Three-time state champs The Irondale Marching Knights were named the Class AAA state champions for the third year in a row during the Youth In Music and Minnesota State Marching Band Championships at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on October 14. Additionally, they received the Outstanding Percussion Award in Class AAA. The Marching Knights advanced into the open class finals competition later that evening, where they placed eighth overall and were the fourth-highest placing band from Minnesota regardless of class.
In the past three years, the ensemble has grown from 71 to 140 students and continues to be a leader in the state for competitive and innovative marching programs. The Marching Knights are under the direction of Dr. Cameron Longabaugh, who began teaching at Irondale High School in 2021, where he serves as the Director of Bands. The band was also named the Regional Class AA Champion and received the awards for Outstanding Music Performance, Outstanding Visual Performance and Outstanding General Effect at the Bands of America Whitewater Regional Championship in Wisconsin, where bands from five different states performed in a two-round competition.
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SPORTS UPDATE
MOUNDS VIEW
Athletic Hall of Fame Mounds View inducted 10 former athletes and coaches into the Hall of Fame during the 2023 Homecoming football game.
Pictured from left to right: Ron and Kim Sawtell (parents of Kayla Sawtell, 2010), Justin Bostrom (2005), Kent Bostrom (2003), Bergan Butala (2008), Mike Cartwright (Coach), Demetrius Charles (2001), Quinn Evans (2007), Mike Leach (2000), Kerry Meath (2001) and Seth Rosin (2007).
Track co-curricular activities on your mobile devices. Search MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS in the app store
Get your tickets online Ticket sales for all home athletic contests are now online. Purchases can be made on a smartphone, tablet or computer. Learn more and purchase tickets online or download the Hometown Ticket app here: mvpschools.org/tickets.
Boys cross country Boys cross country placed third overall at the state tournament. Senior Cayden Stoner finished 12th overall for All State Honors and had the fastest state meet time in program history. This marks the program’s seventh consecutive top five finish, with four of the last five years on the podium. 18
School Talk
FALL 2023
Find the Mounds View Mustangs on Twitter @GoMVMustangs Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/MoundsViewHighSchool For the most up-to-date news, visit the Activities and Athletics website at www.mvpschools.org/moundsview.
Mustang to Major League Baseball Mounds View alumnus Brett Bateman (class of 2020), currently a center fielder for the Gophers, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. The former Mustang was an All-Big Ten second team selection in 2023.
Remembering Coach Bob Stewart Bob Stewart passed away in May 2023 at the age of 86. Coach Stewart was a world history and physical education teacher, head track coach, assistant football coach and started the cross country program. After 35 years of service, he continued to volunteer coach, work in the weight room and officiate track meets for 11 years in retirement. He was highly respected by students, athletes, fellow teachers, coaches, parents, officials and fans. In 2006, the Bob Stewart Track and Field at Mustang Stadium was dedicated in honor of his decades of service to Mounds View High School. At the bottom of the plaque under the Mustang statue, it says what many have said. “The finest man I know.”
Row 1 (L-R) captains Annabelle Huang and Isabella Myrland, R2 Stella Fagerlee, Avery Schifsky, Reese Wahlstrand, Sofia Kostinovski, Avery Dove, Rory Wahlstrand, Row 3 Coach Scott Sundstrom, Annika Dox, Sonali Bhaskar, Maddie Shen, Shae Crockarell, coaches Becky Johnson and Kristin Kettelhut.
Girls tennis The girls tennis team won the Section AAAA title for the sixth year in a row, defeating Roseville 6-1. The team came in fifth place at the state tournament in October. Team captains Annabelle Huang and Isabella Myrland participated in the state quarterfinals in doubles, and Rory Wahlstrand took the consolation prize in singles.
Girls cross country After winning the section title for the third year in a row, the girls cross country team took fourth place at the state tournament. Freshman Linnea Ousdigian and senior Emily Mehta were named All State.
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Mounds View PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Independent School District 621 4570 Victoria St. N Shoreview, MN 55126
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO 4112
No cape required. Not every hero wears a cape. But many work at Mounds View Public Schools. Our employees perform heroic feats daily, shaping the future of our community today — one student at a time. We need difference-makers to save the day in a variety of roles:
Benefits include: • Flexible hours
• Food service staff
• Full- and part-time positions
• Paraeducators
• Competitive pay
• Custodians
• Insurance benefits for positions working more than 20 hours per week
• Substitute teachers • Bus drivers • Licensed health specialists • Licensed school nurses
Join our team, and discover your hidden superpowers. Start here: