Andrea Sorenson     Early Childhood and Family Education Volunteer of the Year
Andrea is proudly recognized as an outstanding member of the ECFE Advisory Council, which she has served on for four years.  She has the strength and ability to recognize opportunities and to generate ideas that always seem to be one step ahead.  Andrea’s dedication, humor and organizational skills have helped the ECFE Advisory Council membership and projects succeed beyond expectations.

 

Amy Busch               Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year
Amy demonstrates volunteer excellence in her dedication to the Minnetonka Swimming Club in community education.  Amy is a diligent committee member who is not afraid to put in large amounts of time, as was demonstrated this past year as she, and other community members, contributed many hours to the formation of the new swim club – The Anchor Club.  The Anchor Club will help fundraise for the new pool complex at Middle School East.  The Anchor Club has worked, and will continue to work, closely with community education as the district moves forward with the upcoming swimming complex renovation at MME.  Through the hard work of Amy and The Anchor Club, the new swimming facility will be a state-of-the-art facility for years to come.  

 

Peter Herbert           Adult Programs Volunteer of the Year 
Peter’s community spirit is exemplary!  Peter has been volunteering daily in the ABE/ELL (Adult Basic Education and English Language Learner) program at the Deephaven Education Center since January of 2007.  At the end of his first day, Peter asked if he could come every day.  He still comes to every class and we are very fortunate that he made that decision.  Peter helps our community’s adult learners with conversational English, reading and writing lessons and also tutors students for the U.S. Citizenship Test.  Peter also takes time to drive to downtown and attend the Naturalization Ceremony for his students.

 

Bruegger’s Bagels, Business Partner of the Year
Bruegger’s Bagels helps by supporting our parents, families, employees and the entire Minnetonka Community Education program by donating bagels and coffee for special activities in the ABE/ELL program.  They were an easy choice for the 2007-2008 Business Partner of the year award.  Store Manager Collin Daniels team knows the importance of the world community and Bruegger’s Bagels is truly an ambassador of good will.  The staff are tremendously helpful and friendly.

 

 

Liz Barlow, MHS Theatre Box Office Volunteer
For the past five years, Liz has provided invaluable assistance to the Minnetonka Theatre department. She generously donates her time and talent to our students, parents and theatre patrons. She coordinates a very busy box office, and always does so with grace and a warm smile. She also creates all of the e-mail blasts promoting Minnetonka Theatre programs. Liz’ passion for our theatre program is unsurpassed.

Dick Glover, Strive Program Volunteer Coordinator
Dick’s commitment to students, on behalf of Rotary, is remarkable. He has personally coordinated the Strive Program through the Lake Minnetonka-Excelsior Rotary for the past four years.  The Strive Program helps seniors at MHS improve their academic performance, network with professionals in the community and prepare for the transition to post-secondary education or the work force. Dick serves as a mentor to students, calling them before meetings and assisting them during tough times. Through his mentoring, Dick has given confidence to numerous students and helped them be successful in their senior year.

Charlie Hurd, Volunteer
Charlie Hurd has served as Minnetonka’s representative to the District 287 Board of Directors since 2003. He is a very active board member and has been deeply involved with recent building projects in the District. He has also been crucial to the development of District 287’s new school for special education. Even though he no longer has children in Minnetonka Public Schools, he continues to dedicate his time to improve the education for our community’s children.

Peg Keenan, Volunteer
Peg Keenan is an extraordinary volunteer for our community. Her leadership on the Quality Academics Committee this past fall helped the District pass the two referendum questions to support the schools. She is an involved leader in Minnetonka Schools’ PTAs, currently serving as the president of the MHS PTSA. She also serves on the Tonka CARES Task Force and Parent committee. Peg continually strives to make a difference in our children’s lives.

Mary Nesbitt, Volunteer
Mary exemplifies commitment, dedication and takes volunteerism to a new level. She shows a genuine love for all the activities she helps coordinate and execute at Scenic Heights Elementary, including Art Masterpiece, Bravo, classroom volunteering, lunchroom help, Full Bowls and media center assistance. She helps create a warm and welcoming learning environment for all students at Scenic Heights Elementary. 

Renee Noland, Volunteer
Renee has volunteered ideas, time and money to the Minnetonka Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program over the past three school years. From organizing the library to creating a positive classroom environment, Renee has made a difference in the lives of staff, children and families. Her presence, smile and creativity have provided ECSE with a more relaxing atmosphere in the classroom. The circle of lives she touches with her kindness continues to expand each year.

Kevin Olsen, Volunteer
Ask any student at Groveland to name their favorite event of the school year, and they are sure to say the Dads’ Spaghetti Dinner! Kevin Olsen a.k.a. Spaghetti Eddie, has been a champion for this family event since he started organizing it 12 years ago. He has done a wonderful job of garnering support from fellow parents and increasing involvement year after year. Because of Kevin’s support, the Spaghetti Dinner has become an event that kids look forward to year after year.

Laurie Pohlad, Volunteer
Laurie is a tireless, behind-the-scenes volunteer. A graphic designer by trade, Laurie has shared her talent with our school community in any way she can, whether it’s creating newsletters or helping out a booster club. For the past seven years, she has helped fourth graders at Excelsior create a school newspaper, teaching them the steps to creating a paper and how to develop stories. She teaches invaluable lessons they will carry with them for life. With the newspaper, Laurie enables our children to have a voice.

Trish Tennyson, Volunteer
During the past four years, Trish Tennyson has been an active leader in the Minnetonka Foundation and has served as Foundation Chair the past two years. Under her leadership, the Foundation has held two highly successful Dream Maker fundraising events, donated nearly $100,000 to the District for teacher grants and launched the Writing Center at MHS. Trish is an affirming and strong leader who demonstrates unquenchable optimism and a “can-do” attitude for every endeavor.

Beacon Bank, Business Partner
Whenever there is a call for sponsorship or support of a District program—from sports to theatre to the Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation—Beacon Bank is there. Both financially and with in-kind donations and volunteer service, the Beacon Bank executive team are active members of our community, continually advocating for our schools and stepping forward to help the District provide the best educational opportunities for our children.

 

The Minnetonka Employee Award for Child-Centered Excellence honors staff members who demonstrate exemplary commitment, enthusiasm, student-focus, effectiveness and professionalism, while maintaining a helpful attitude and responsive behavior with encouraging words and outstanding customer service. These employees take pride in their jobs and display personal and professional integrity. They advocate for the best interest of students, exhibit a genuine love of children and a professional commitment to children’s learning.

Jim Gosewisch        Head Custodian/Building Engineer, MME
A long-time employee of Minnetonka Public Schools, Jim exemplifies a positive, helpful, caring attitude. Being the head custodian of such a large building is not an easy job, but Jim makes sure everything runs smoothly and enhances student learning. He is kind and patient with all students and staff and is always willing to help out. Jim knows his job well and continually accomplishes tasks beyond his daily duties. Jim makes MME a great place to come to and learn each day.

Susan Williams        Head Secretary, MHS
Susan exhibits exceptional personal integrity, maintains a helpful attitude and embodies a high level of professionalism in her role at Minnetonka High School. Parents are appreciative of her organizational skills and knowledge about high school programs. In addition to her daily duties, she has worked with Youth for Understanding to facilitate international inbound student exchange for the last several years.  Her adept, confident and capable presence is treasured by everyone she encounters.

Shirley Snyder         Parent Education Manager
A diligent and effective advocate for parent education, Shirley is very committed to providing endless opportunities for parent engagement in the District. She is a creative thinker who continually exceeds expectations in finding speakers and developing program initiatives. In the past six years, she has brought in numerous speakers, many of whom are nationally renowned. Her focus on enriching the lives of our community’s parents has truly helped them become better supporters of their children.

Beth Erickson         District Caterer
Since 2005, Beth has been providing outstanding customer service and wonderful menus as the District Caterer. Her attention to detail and ability to design a menu based on her knowledge is astonishing. In creatively catering to the many behind-the-scenes gatherings in the Minnetonka School District, Beth fuels the minds of people who plan and make decisions for the children of our community.

Candy Curry            Social Worker, Clear Springs
Sandy has a powerful, positive impact on the children in our community. She is an eternal advocate for all of her students and helps students and parents any way she can, whether it’s a quick meeting at school, meeting for coffee outside of the school day or inviting her students to join her at special events. Her love for children is evident in her dedication to her position at Clear Springs, continually going beyond the usual duties of her job to make life just a bit easier for children and their families.

Robyn Klinker        Human Resources Coordinator
Robyn is a professional in every sense of the word. She takes absolute pride ensuring hiring for our District is done with integrity, thoroughness and quality. She is focused on the details of each employee situation she handles, no matter how big or small it may be. Robyn ensures that all employees receive the honor and respect that they deserve, and that integrity is reflected in Minnetonka’s employees.

Terry Balfanz          Paraprofessional, MHS
Terry has a unique gift for building relationships with different groups of students at Minnetonka High School. Walking the halls, you can find Terry talking to students about what’s going on in their classes and showing a sincere interest in their lives.  He has been an advocate and supporter of the Optimist Club and started a tutoring program connecting high school and middle school students. Terry is a true asset to the students in Minnetonka.

Pam Bromme           Science Center Paraprofessional                       
Pam keeps the elementary science curriculum sailing for all teachers K-5. She is always eager to assist teachers in any way that she can, whether it’s giving them ideas to make their science lesson more exciting or finding the proper equipment to deliver to their classroom. If a teacher needs something to help students learn science, Pam takes care of it. Teachers throughout the District appreciate Pam’s dedication to the Science Center and her devotion to inspiring student learning. 

Dave Adney            Principal, MHS
Dave is well-respected by students, parents and staff in the Minnetonka community. His leadership has propelled MHS to become one of the top high schools in America. He frequently tours the halls to greet students at MHS, developing relationships along the way. This past fall, Dave helped our community grieve the loss of two friends. His compassion and spirit helped everyone find the strength to make it through a difficult time. Dave is a true advocate for our students, as one student stated, “Adney is basically everyone’s hero.  He loves school; he loves Minnetonka. He is someone everyone can look up to. He makes sure that students come before everyone else.”

 

Margaret Coldwell    ECFE
Margaret has an incredible knack of engaging children in her lessons, while bringing energy and enthusiasm to the classroom every day. Margaret truly loves working with children and continually puts her whole heart into developing her lessons. Parents find it easy to develop relationships with Margaret and always feel welcome to ask questions—even months after a class has ended. 

Deb Jensen             Clear Springs Elementary        Speech Specialist
No speech challenge is too great for Deb to tackle. As a speech specialist, she is continually searching for innovative ways to motivate children to ensure they continue to grow their abilities. Children love coming to her classroom, where she always makes them feel welcome and ready to learn. Deb’s gentle, positive presence is a true inspiration for children and helps them achieve goals they may have thought were too ambitious. But for Deb, there’s no such thing.  

Janelle Baarsch      Deephaven Elementary            1^st Grade
Janelle truly understands each child in her classroom. She creates a serene, calm atmosphere, while still challenging children and setting them up for success. The result: a general excitement in her classroom for students. She always has a smile on her face while showing all her students that she cares about them. Parents enjoy the extra mile Janelle goes to communicate with them—whether it’s a phone call, email or visit, she’s always available. 

Mark Broten           Excelsior Elementary               3^rd Grade
Even though he’s been teaching more than 15 years, Mark still has the same enthusiasm he did when he first stepped into the classroom. He doesn’t accept an “I can’t” attitude from his students, inspiring them to strive for their very best. His love for teaching is evident in his dedication to the craft and his ability to make learning fun for his students. “Broten Bucks,” Olympic Reading and the third grade zoo trip are just a few activities from his class that his students remember for years.  

Sara Lovelace         Groveland Elementary             2^nd Grade
Sara has a rare combination of talents to challenge her students in a way that’s right for each one, while exuding a gentleness to make them feel special. Her love for teaching is contagious. Her students’ passion for learning is ignited by her ability to continually challenge them while providing encouragement and special rewards for their hard work. And her impact is undeniable: even as her students go through high school, many of them continue to cite her as their all-time favorite teacher.   

Sue Hudgens           Minnewashta Elementary        2^nd Grade
When Sue speaks to her students, they feel like they are the most special person in the room. She encourages them to work at their own pace and knows how to engage each learner at his or her individual level. She brings an extraordinary combination of master teaching skills, a passion for her craft that drives her tireless enthusiasm and dedication, and a love for her children that is warmly evident in everything she says and does each day. 

Mary Renz              Scenic Heights Elementary      Music Specialist
Students can’t wait to learn about music in Mary’s classroom, where music class is so much more than just singing. She has a true love for teaching music to children and makes sure each child is involved and successful in every class she teaches. From bringing in guest musicians to joining the class for a ukulele jam, Mary knows how to bring out the musician in every child.  

Sandy Krantz-O’Neil    Middle School                     Reading Specialist
Sandy’s love of children is displayed by her willingness to know them as individuals and make connections beyond the academic child. Her tireless effort on behalf of her students is evidenced in every lesson. She challenges each child to reach new heights, while constantly researching for new instructional materials and technology to reach each child and ease learning struggles.  Sandy demonstrates a true commitment to her students. 

Susan Brzezinski     Middle School West                Language Arts
Susan’s colleagues say no one outworks her, or has more passion for student learning. Her classroom is a warm and welcoming environment, because Susan is so enthusiastic about teaching language arts. She understands that not all students share her excitement for language arts, but encourages them to tie their interests into the subject—increasing their motivation and their own passion for learning. 

Ann Hersman         Minnetonka High School           Math
Ann creates a caring and warm environment while showing exemplary commitment to all students. She understands that each student learns differently, and employs a wide variety of teaching techniques to address everyone’s individual needs. Parents appreciate Ann’s weekly progress reports and frequent updates about classroom activities. Every student can succeed in Ann’s classroom, thanks to her unparalleled talent, commitment and skills.

Sue Sinkler           Minnetonka High School             Language Arts
Walk into Sue’s class and you will be impressed with her vast knowledge about language arts and literature. She exemplifies child-centered excellence in her everyday ability to share the passion of literature with students who may not initially be interested in the subject. Students love the give-and-take she facilitates and her openness to everyone’s ideas.  Each year, students recognize Sue as a teacher who has made a significant impact on their lives.  Graduates often come back to thank her for helping them develop a strong foundation in writing.