Alison Kacer began her journey as an advocate for her son, Lucas, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was four years old. Then, her mindset shifted from finding a fix to finding the right support system for her son. That support system now includes Andover Elementary School special education teacher Donna Macoskey. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Alison and Donna joined host Liz Burgard to discuss the Kacer family’s experience navigating the district’s special educat...
Feb 01, 2024•33 min•Ep. 41
Navigating the mental health system both in the medical and educational settings can be difficult or just a new experience for parents/guardians. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Beth Lovre a family peer educator with the National Alliance of Mental Illness Minnesota (NAMI) joined host Liz Burgard to provide information for parents/guardians on the value of parent engagement and advocacy to ensure the best care and treatment for your child. Lovre will be the guest speaker for the next Pa...
Jan 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 40
Human connection matters. In today’s increasingly digital world, it is more important than ever to make personal engaging connections with your children. Joe Beckman, author and co-founder of TILL360, joined Liz Burgard on the Parent Engage 360 Podcast to share more about the Power of Human Connection. Beckman was the keynote speaker on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at Coon Rapids High School to kick off the 2023-24 Parent Engage 360 Parent Education Series. Joe delivered a high-energy presentation about the ...
Dec 22, 2023•34 min•Ep. 39
New this school year, every student is able to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year due to the state’s Free School Meals program. While the program is new, students will still have access to the same nutritious meals they have come to expect in Anoka-Hennepin. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard was joined by Anoka-Hennepin child nutrition leaders Noah Atlas (director) and Callie Neumann (assistant director) to learn more about the state's F...
Oct 24, 2023•37 min•Ep. 38
In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, district parent involvement coordinator, was joined by Coon Rapids High School principal John Peña and volunteer services coordinator Danille Callahan to discuss the importance of parent involvement in schools. In the episode, Peña and Callahan discussed their experiences both as parents and in their current roles, and the importance of parents/guardians being involved in their child’s educational journey in a number of wa...
Sep 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 37
Cory McIntyre began his new role as Superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin Schools on July 1 and has been off and running meeting with staff across the district. McIntyre joined Liz Burgard, parent involvement coordinator, in the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast to share his excitement for returning to the district, discuss the theme for the 2023-24 school year and more. The Parent Engage 360 Podcast aims to provide parents and guardians with knowledge from experts in chemical health, m...
Aug 18, 2023•24 min•Ep. 36
When you suggest to your children to read a book or a magazine and to put down the screens and devices, chances are you are met with groans and all kinds of excuses. Check out the he latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, with resources to help! District parent involvement coordinator and host Liz Burgard was joined by district media specialist Holly Groebner, Tiffany Casey (senior librarian, community engagement, Hennepin County libraries) and Erin Straszewski (community engagement ma...
Jul 24, 2023•37 min•Ep. 35
Anoka-Hennepin Schools provide structures of support for students to attain the skills and knowledge to succeed. Systems are in place to support students in all areas of academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs. In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard was joined by Angela Ronay, school social worker at Champlin Park High School, and Julia Corneil-Smith, school counselor at Coon Rapids High School, to learn more about the student support model used in Anok...
Jun 15, 2023•39 min•Ep. 34
The latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast is the second of a two-part series focused on school safety. In Episode 32 Part 2, host Liz Burgard was joined by Anoka-Hennepin Chief Operations Officer Greg Cole and Tim Fournier, the district’s Security & Emergency Operations Manager to learn more about the district’s approach to school safety. Anoka-Hennepin Schools' first priority is the safety of its students and staff, and everyone plays a role in keeping schools safe. In this episod...
May 18, 2023•40 min•Ep. 33
The latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast is the first of a two-part series focused on school safety. In Episode 32 Part 1, host Liz Burgard sat down with Champlin Park High School principal Mike George and City of Brooklyn Park Police Officer and School Resource Officer (SRO) Andy Dickman to learn more about the role of the SRO in Anoka-Hennepin and their vital role in safety, building relationships and getting people comfortable in talking with law enforcement. Anoka-Hennepin coordinates SROs in 12...
Apr 21, 2023•29 min•Ep. 32
There are many factors that may impact the way we feel about ourselves and the way we show up each day, and one of these factors that impact many, including students is body image. Adults and teens alike are presented with body image media on a daily basis through various forms of traditional and social media which can have a mental and physical impact on an individual. In this episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin's parent involvement coordinator, hopes to connec...
Mar 23, 2023•33 min•Ep. 31
Did you know that around 34,000 Anoka-Hennepin students ride a bus to and from school each day? The district transportation services department works closely with partners to safely transport students using approximately 380 vehicles traveling more than six million miles annually. The district services more than 8,000 bus stops traveling to and from more than 60 school sites daily. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast episode, host Liz Burgard is joined by transportation director B.J. Ison an...
Jan 27, 2023•48 min•Ep. 30
Sportsmanship is everybody’s business, and Anoka-Hennepin Schools and the Northwest Suburban Conference (NWSC) are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all at athletics and activities events. Earlier this year, around 100 students from all five district high schools and NWSC member schools participated in a sportsmanship seminar titled “Stay Above the Line,” an initiative to promote positive spectator behavior and expectations. In the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast episo...
Dec 20, 2022•23 min•Ep. 29
Bullying is a topic that often arises, and is not always easy to discuss as a parent or guardian. Parents may be wondering how to support their child, what questions to ask, or who to talk to at school to help. In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, is joined by Britt Olean, district school social worker, and Mary Kling, assistant principal of the Compass program overseeing elementary student conduct and discipline...
Nov 18, 2022•36 min•Ep. 28
Parents and guardians may have recently been invited to sign up for the first round of parent/teacher conferences for this school year, and they may be wondering what to expect or how to prepare for conferences with your child’s teacher or teachers. In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator; Nikole Wodash, Sunrise Elementary School assistant principal; and Jill Alton, Coon Rapids High School assistant principal, hope t...
Sep 30, 2022•24 min•Ep. 27
It is officially back-to-school season! In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, Interim Superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire joined host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, to discuss all things back to school. Maguire began serving as interim superintendent in July and shares in this podcast what she has learned in just two short months at Anoka-Hennepin. With nearly 40 years of experience in education, Maguire provides tips and recommendations for parents and...
Sep 01, 2022•24 min•Ep. 26
As the 2022-23 school year approaches, some parents/guardians may be gearing up for their first school year as caregivers or sending their youngest to kindergarten. Whether sending your child to school for the first time or for the first time in a few years, you may have some questions about how it all works or what to expect. We’ve got you covered! Tune in to the latest Parent Engage 360 Podcast episode titled “Welcome to kindergarten” to hear from two district kindergarten teachers on what you...
Aug 10, 2022•49 min•Ep. 25
Summer is a fun-filled time for many, that includes a variety of outdoor activities including swimming and biking, to name a few. While summer is a time to enjoy as many of those activities as possible, it is also important to think about how to enjoy all of those activities safely. In Episode 24 of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, was joined by Robin Chambers, Anoka-Hennepin Community Schools Specialist, and Danielle Forsman, a patr...
Jul 08, 2022•31 min•Ep. 24
Anoka-Hennepin offers 12 schools that provide in-demand educational options such as the arts; science, technology, math, engineering and biomedical sciences (STEM/STEAM), as well as International Baccalaureate (IB). Specialty and magnet schools are public schools available to all students at no additional cost. These schools, which are at the elementary, middle and high school levels, are designed to provide family choice. In Episode 23 of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-H...
Jun 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 23
Money management is an important topic for teens to think and learn about as they start searching for their first job, starting a savings account for college or getting a head start on personal finances. Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses how money management is taught and what is offered to students in the district with Blaine High School (BHS) business teacher and Business Professionals of America (BPA) advisor Holly Boisjolie and BHS senior Elija...
May 20, 2022•37 min•Ep. 22
Do you have a student moving from elementary school to middle school, or middle to high school? Have you wondered what that transition might look like? Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she sits down with Coon Rapids High School (CRHS) principal John Peña and senior Lilah Gilyard to learn more about what a day looks like for an Anoka-Hennepin student and what to expect when transitioning. Gilyard is a multi-sport athlete at CRHS, competing in cross country, cros...
Apr 19, 2022•46 min•Ep. 21
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses how to get mental health support for your student with PrairieCare child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Joshua Stein and Anoka-Hennepin school social worker Julie Beaufeaux. Dr. Stein outlines programming offered by PrairieCare and how to go about getting a mental health assessment for your child(ren). Beaufeaux talks about the role of a school social worker in Anoka-Hennepin and how they can help facilitate conne...
Apr 01, 2022•46 min•Ep. 20
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses all things Community Education in the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast. In this episode, Burgard is joined by Michelle Trelstad, Anoka-Hennepin’s director of community education, and Jamie Law, community education coordinator at Northdale Middle School to discuss all things community education. Anoka-Hennepin Community Education reaches more than half a million people every year - through classes, se...
Feb 28, 2022•30 min•Ep. 19
Several of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast episodes over the past two years have discussed and provided resources on the topic of mental health. A topic that has been weaved into that conversation is suicide. Suicide can be a topic that is difficult to discuss, and at times, there can be a stigma, and often, we don’t know how to start the conversation on such an emotional topic. In the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast, host Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator,...
Jan 26, 2022•36 min•Ep. 18
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses growth mindset with Blaine High School (BHS) achievement coach Kevin Bross. In this episode, Bross discusses his role at BHS as an achievement coach and how he teaches the concept of growth mindset to fellow teachers. Bross shared his own experience implementing growth mindset into this daily routine both personally and professionally and why a growth mindset can be beneficial for students and adults alike....
Dec 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 17
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she discusses mental health, specifically anxiety. In this episode, Burgard is joined by Sue Abderholden from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to discuss mental health, specifically anxiety and the upcoming Parent Engage 360 event that will be held Dec. 9. Abderholden shares information about anxiety, and the difference between anxiety and depression, including some tips for young adults and parents on managing anx...
Nov 30, 2021•19 min•Ep. 16
Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin parent involvement coordinator, as she talks about internet safety and cyberbullying in the latest episode of the Parent Engage 360 Podcast. In this episode, Burgard sits down with Blaine High School (BHS) technology coordinator and learning technologies coach Daryl Boeckers and senior Heba Hussein, a member of the BHS Bengal Bytes club, to discuss internet safety and cyberbullying. Boeckers provides insight both as a teacher and parent of teenagers while Hussein...
Oct 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 15
Voters in Anoka-Hennepin communities will have the opportunity to weigh in on three ballot questions on or before Nov. 2, considering a renewal of two levies for learning and investing in a new operating levy providing support for all students. Referendum 2021 includes two questions to renew levies to fund operations and technology that would not increase taxes but would extend current funding while supporting student learning. Planning and research obtained from community surveys over the past ...
Sep 28, 2021•22 min•Ep. 14
Following an unprecedented school year filled with non-traditional learning structures, it is important to acknowledge that some students may have a difficult time transitioning back into the traditional in-person learning model - especially those going from elementary to middle school, and middle school to high school. Join Liz Burgard, Parent Involvement Coordinator, Tom Shaw, Principal of Coon Rapids Middle School, and Mike George, Principal of Champlin Park High School, as they discuss ways ...
Aug 16, 2021•40 min•Ep. 13
With graduation parties and summer upon us, it is important to be aware of our students' choices surrounding alcohol and alcohol consumption. Join Liz Burgard, Anoka-Hennepin Parent Involvement Coordinator, as she talks about the effects of alcohol, how kids gain access, and what parameters can be set to prioritize our students' safety and wellbeing. Additionally, learn about what a social host ordinance citation is and how it can impact you as the adult. Liz is joined by Colleen O'Neil, Anoka-H...
Jun 15, 2021•36 min•Ep. 12
