Points of Pride

A huge congratulations to IJ Holton Intermediate and Ellis Middle School principal Dewey Schara on being named the 2024 Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator.

"This award is presented to those who improve students’ lives by proactively modeling and teaching scouting values."

Dewey will be honored at a dinner on Tuesday, October 22 at 5:30 PM. The Boy Scouts’ Twin Valley Council will host the dinner, which is open to the public, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Austin.

Read more at 
https://www.twinvalleybsa.org/resources/fundraising/mcdc/.

Congratulations to former Austin High School Boys Basketball coach Kris Fadness on being named a 2024 Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) Hall of Fame inductee.

Coach Fadness was the head varsity boys basketball coach for 25 seasons, leading the team to multiple state tournament appearances and directly impacting the lives of countless student-athletes along the way. “I feel blessed and lucky to have coached for as long as I did,” said Coach Fadness. “I’m incredibly thankful to have been around good people who have given me so much.”

While developing a winning culture was a big part of Coach Fadness’s legacy, he always made it a point to highlight the importance of demonstrating a strong work ethic, passion, and desire for everyone to be their best. “I love the game and being able to share it,” said Coach Fadness, “but what I hope carried through with our players was my presence and commitment to them rather than the outcome of a contest.”

Coach Fadness and the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the MBCA Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, October 26, at 2:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis. Ticket information can be found at http://www.mshsca.org/boysbasketball.

“I like to think [this incredible honor] means I did things the right way,” said Coach Fadness. “And I’d also like to give a big shout-out to my family, who allowed me to follow my passion.”

The AHS Symphony Orchestra has been selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Convention in February!

This is the fourth time the orchestra has been selected for this prestigious honor during the tenure of AHS Orchestra Director Gene Schott.

This time around, Mr. Schott is going to use the performance to honor the Connection, Collaboration, and Community of Austin. The performance will highlight:

• our past and present by celebrating and involving our past and present music educators in our performance,

• our community partnerships by involving MacPhail, the Hormel Foundation, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and the Austin Music Boosters (among other outside groups), and

• our future by embracing and celebrating our community and its diversity both as it is now and for what it will be in the future.

Austin's performance will be on February 13, 2025, at 2:15 PM at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and we will have more information to share as the performance date approaches.

Congratulations again!

Four students from Austin High School have been selected to attend the Global Youth Institute, part of the World Food Prize Foundation. Our students will be among the 150 student delegates from around the world that will participate in the World Food Prize Conference alongside world leaders in Des Moines, Iowa this October. At the conference, students will have the opportunity to share their researched findings in roundtable discussions with leaders in the fields of science, industry, and policy. They will attend workshops and sessions on global food security, agriculture, and sustainability, and participate in the Feeding a Fragile World Simulation to grow their understanding of food challenges facing our world.

To prepare to attend the Global Youth Institute, the students researched a global food security issue. They presented their research at the Minnesota Youth Institute in May 2024 and because of their outstanding performance at the institute were invited to participate in interviews held to select student delegates to represent Minnesota.

The students selected to serve as Minnesota delegates from Austin High School including their research topics are:

• Chloe Cannon - Poor Infrastructure in Rural Romania
• Makayla Dokpodjo - The United Arab Emirates: Turning Deserts into Greenhouses
• Sabreen Nagid - Political Causes of Starvation in Sudan
• Isabella Rosenthal - Improving Belize's Food Waste and Food Production

The students' participation would not have been possible without the support of their teacher and mentor Lisa Sanders and community partners Hormel Foods and the Hometown Food Security Project.

To learn more about the Global Youth Institute and the World Food Prize please visit the Global Youth Institute website at https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/youth_programs/global_youth_institute/.

A huge congratulations to Austin's 2024 @CollegeBoard National Recognition Program awardees! Three different students from Austin High School earned recognition for their academic excellence this year.

National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA) Recipients:

• Amber Forsythe
• Liam Mayers
• Claudia McDonald

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The semifinalist pool represents less than one percent of US high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

In other words, qualifying as a semifinalist is kind of a big deal.

Congratulations, all!

A huge congratulations to Austin's IJ Holton Intermediate School and Sumner Elementary School on being recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education as PBIS Sustaining Exemplar schools. Both sites will be honored at the PBIS Summer Institute and Recognition Ceremony today by MDE Commissioner Willie Jett. Way to go!

Austin Public Schools has been recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) with multiple Digital Media Excellence Awards. NSPRA’s Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards “recognize outstanding education publications and marketing/informational materials, video/TV/radio programs, social media, and websites.”

NSPRA’s Digital Media Excellence Awards are given out at three levels (Excellence, Merit, and Honorable Mention). Three of Austin’s awards are at the Honorable Mention level while the last is Excellence.

Austin received the following awards:

• a Podcast Honorable Mention recognizing Packercast, a podcast highlighting staff members in the district (https://spoti.fi/3L9F3j4),
• an Internet Website Honorable Mention for Accelerate Austin, the district’s strategic plan information site (https://accelerateaustin.org),
• a Newsletter Honorable Mention for #492Happenings, the district’s weekly superintendent’s newsletter (https://www.smore.com/n/yuqta),
• and a Video Award of Excellence for Empowering Futures: A Glimpse Into Austin Online Academy, an informational video about the district’s virtual school initiative (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY4Xa7XDkwY).

“Our goal with effective school communications is to keep the public informed and highlight the important work at Austin Public Schools,” says Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. “It’s an honor to be recognized by NSPRA and top communication professionals.” 

According to Communications Coordinator Ryan Mayers, “there are a lot of innovative and successful programs at Austin Public Schools. Seeing them recognized means a lot to everyone in the district and is a real credit to the community.”

Congratulations to Austin's Ellen Ekins, Mia King, and Eeva Nelson on being named Scholars of Distinction by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Only 11 students in the state received this prestigious honor and three of them hail from Austin.

MDE's website states that the Scholars of Distinction program is meant "to recognize academic and intellectual accomplishments by talented Minnesota students that happen both in school and out of school. This program celebrates the collaboration among students and educators, as well as family and community members, that promote ongoing inquiry and the quest for new learning and new understanding of the world around us."

"The Scholars of Distinction Award program recognizes exceptional performance and achievement by students in grades 11 and 12," says MDE's Wendy Behrens, Scholars of Distinction Project Director. "This recognition confirms student engagement in a rigorous course of study and completion of a focused research project. To earn the award, students are required to demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively to address a real-world problem. I have no doubt their achievements will serve as an inspiration to other students and provide a foundation for continued academic success."

To be considered for the program, students completed a capstone project in an academic area they are passionate about. The project allows students to "exercise [their] creativity, stretch what [they] have learned, and challenge [themselves]." Submitted projects needed to be new academic work (not repurposed from another school assignment) and beyond the typical high school coursework.

"For the first time, three exceptional students from Austin have been honored with the Minnesota Department of Education's Scholar of Distinction award," said Dr. Joey Page, Austin Superintendent. "We are immensely proud of this extraordinary achievement, which sets a new standard of excellence for future scholars."

A virtual ceremony for award recipients will be held on June 20 at 7:00 pm. To learn more about the Scholars of Distinction program, visit here. 

A huge congratulations to Austin High School orchestra director Gene Schott who was selected to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra this past weekend.

"It was an amazing privilege [to] perform with the Minnesota Orchestra," said Schott. "Truly a dream come true."

According to Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page, "it's truly inspiring to see [Mr. Schott] sharing the stage with such a prestigious ensemble. [His] dedication and passion for music shined brightly this weekend [and will hopefully be an] inspiration to others who dream of such moments."

Check out this article from the Star Tribune for more information!

Austin Area Alternative Learning Center (AALC) teacher Gabe Nelson was named the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs (MAAP) STARS Advisor of the Year at the Spring STARS Conference held in Mankato on April 25 and 26. Mr. Nelson was nominated by several of his students for this prestigious honor.

According to AALC principal Allison Gunderson, “Mr. Nelson is an amazing educator and a strong leader for our Austin Alternative Learning Center, and this year he became our MAAP Stars advisor. Through Mr. Nelson’s leadership with this program, they continue to make a positive impact for our high school and our community. In the words of his students in the MAAP STARS program, ‘Mr. Nelson does the most and expects the least.’  We are truly grateful to have him as a teacher.”

MAAP STARS, the student arm of the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs, “is a comprehensive program designed to help [students] unlock [their] talents, develop [their] skills, and reach [their] full potential.”

Mr. Nelson was honored at the Spring STARS Conference, a “two-day conference [giving] students in alternative settings the opportunity to showcase the knowledge they have learned, along with their artistic, career and life skills. Students participated as individuals and/or in teams in competitive and non-competitive events and were evaluated by volunteer judges.”

Austin has been a member of MAAP Stars for more than 15 years, boasting several state officers and honored students.

Austin Public Schools’ Austin Online Academy received a Bronze Star of Innovation Award from the Minnesota Association of Secondary Principals (MASSP). The Star of Innovation Award is “designed to recognize schools statewide for the development and support of … exemplary and innovative education program[s].”

We are humbled and grateful to be recognized for our collaborative efforts in shaping a school environment that prioritizes innovation and excellence in education,” said Austin Online Academy principal Jessica Cabeen. “This award symbolizes the dedication and hard work of our entire team, and we are thankful for the support of MASSP and Horace Mann.”

According to MASSP Executive Director Bob Driver, Austin’s “school community is better because of the willingness [of school leaders] to be open to new ideas and the ability to continually improve the school environment by finding creative and innovative ways to build on [AOA’s] success.”

“I am incredibly proud that Austin Online Academy has been recognized with the Bronze Star of Innovation Award,” says Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. “It truly highlights our commitment to innovative and growing educational options.”

“Austin High School and Austin Online Academy are supporting students in meaningful and innovative ways," says Austin High School principal Matt Schmit. “We are honored to be recognized for our efforts and are excited to see what the future holds.”

Austin Online Academy will be recognized at a special event on Monday, June 24, as part of the MASSP summer conference.

Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology, has recognized Austin's Banfield, Neveln, Southgate, and Sumner Elementary Schools as Common Sense Schools.

Austin's elementary schools have demonstrated their commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing their students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate while preparing them for the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying.

With the right support, kids can take ownership of their digital lives, engage with real issues, and change their communities for the better. The recognition acknowledges our school's commitment to creating a culture of digital citizenship.

"We applaud the faculty and staff of Austin's elementary schools for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students' education," said Liz Kline, vice president of education programs at Common Sense Education. "They deserve high praise for giving their students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large."

The schools have been using Common Sense Education's innovative and research-based digital citizenship resources, which were created in collaboration with researchers from Project Zero, led by Howard Gardner at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and are grounded in the real issues students and teachers face. The resources teach students, educators, and parents tangible skills related to internet safety, protecting online reputations and personal privacy, media balance, managing online relationships, and media literacy. The free K–12 curriculum is used in classrooms across all 50 states, in more than 80,000 schools by more than 1,00,000 educators.

"We're honored for our elementary sites to be recognized as Common Sense Schools," said Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. "By preparing our students to use technology safely and responsibly, we are providing them an opportunity to build lifelong habits to help them succeed in a tech-driven world. This aligns nicely with our mission to prepare all learners to make a difference in the world."

Austin Technology Integrationists Josh McRae and Jer Osgood were instrumental in helping achieve this incredible honor.

For the second year in a row, Austin Public Schools has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 25th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Austin is one of only seven districts in Minnesota to earn the honor. 

“We're thrilled to announce that our dedication to music education has been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education award,” said Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. “This honor is a testament to the collective efforts of our talented staff, students, families/caregivers, and community leaders. Together, we've made music an integral part of a well-rounded education for every child in the Austin Public Schools. We're proud of our community's strong commitment to creating an environment where music is vital to our children's growth and learning.”

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music. After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. 

"Our unwavering commitment is steadfast in embracing and rewarding educators, administrators, parents and community leaders who applaud and support comprehensive music instruction as a fundamental part of core learning opportunities," said John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO. "These leaders offer an extraordinary model of teaching that ignites a foundation of success we can all honor and celebrate."

According to NAMM, “The schools and communities recognized by the Best Communities for Music Education demonstrate a commitment to ensuring music learning opportunities are available for every student and provide an example for other communities to follow.”

“In the world that our students are living in today, music education in public schools is more important than ever before. Music connects students, both within themselves and with others around them. Performing music enables students to simultaneously use both the artistic and technical sides of their brains to create something both technically precise and beautiful,” said Christoph Dundas, Austin High School band director. “It teaches critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and perseverance. But most importantly, music education teaches students to connect with each other and the world around them. It is a universal language shared by students around the world.”

Austin Public Schools’ Austin Online Academy received national recognition during the 2024 Digital Learning Day on February 15, 2024. According to All4Ed, Digital Learning Day “provides a valuable platform for educators and stakeholders to showcase innovative practices, and [Austin’s] involvement in this event is a testament to [their] commitment to leveraging technology to enhance student learning experiences.”

“As a passionate educator dedicated to fostering safe, welcoming environments enriched with meaningful learning experiences, being recognized as a 2024 Digital Learning Day honoree is incredibly humbling,” says Austin Online Academy principal Jessica Cabeen. “Digital Learning Day serves as a powerful platform to highlight the profound impact of technology in education, and this honor reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student has access to engaging and enriching learning opportunities.”

Austin Online Academy was one of only four programs highlighted during the event, which featured a message from United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in addition to discussions about the importance of “offering flexible and accessible learning options, … empowering students to tailor their education to meet their unique needs and interests.”

Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page shared, “The continuous growth and success of Austin Online Academy are both exciting and impressive, showcasing our commitment to educational innovation and student achievement.”

Austin Online Academy is a virtual learning program for Minnesota grades 9-12 students. Currently enrolling nearly 100 students, the goal of the Academy is to make learning accessible to all students while providing them with the opportunity to learn on their schedule. A team of dedicated staff works to support students virtually and in person, and students enrolled in the program can participate in Austin High School activities and athletics.

“[We] remain steadfast in our efforts to make a significant impact for families statewide,” says Cabeen. “We are committed to offering meaningful learning experiences and a space where students can truly thrive as innovative, creative, and engaged learners.”

Congratulations to Austin Public Schools’ Equity and Integration Coordinator Kristi Beckman on her selection as a 2024 Zonta Woman of Achievement. The award honors women who “have demonstrated a commitment to leadership in their community. As a result of [their] service, the community is a better place to live.”

Kristi will be honored at the 11^th annual Women of Achievement Dinner on April 9, 2024, at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Austin. The mission of the Women of Achievement Dinner “is to honor the personal and professional leadership and service of women,” and functions as a fundraiser for area agencies that benefit women and children as well as providing scholarships to women in the county. In addition to purchasing tickets to the event, attendees can purchase coffee, nuts, and Kwik Trip gift cards in addition to a basket raffle.

In addition to Kristi, former APS employee Danielle Nesvold is also being honored at the event.

“Since Zonta helps women and girls and these two are such a force for doing that, that’s why they were nominated for this,” said Zonta Club’s Cheryl Retterath.

Zonta International is a nonprofit organization that envisions a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.

On Friday morning, the Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra (SEMYO) visited Austin High School to share this year's show, "Ports of Call". The show featured the world premier of AHS student Blake Zimmerli's Alpenglow, which won this year's inaugural SEMYO Polaris Composition Prize. Congratulations!

Be sure to check out the performance at the link below!

Congratulations to Austin High School Spanish teacher Tieler Myers on being selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). A role model to his students, Mr. Myers, was nominated by a student for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the profession.

Each year student members of NSHSS are invited to nominate the educator who has made the most significant contribution to their academic career for the Claes Nobel Educator Distinction award. This honor recognizes exemplary educators whose passion and devotion inspire their students to grow and develop as scholars, leaders, and citizens.

“I'm very grateful for this award,” says Mr. Myers. “Our students are without a doubt the best part of this job. They are the unlimited potential of the future, so I do my best to create a welcoming environment where they can be themselves, laugh, and enjoy the content, but also be heard, respected, and appreciated for everything they have to offer. They all have incredible life stories, and it is always my hope to connect and show them that they have someone that cares and is in their corner every step of the way.”

Formed in 2002 by James W. Lewis and Claes Nobel, a senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, The National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving students through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study, and peer networks.

“Dedicated educators who exhibit a commitment to excellence deserve our highest praise and appreciation,” said NSHSS President James W. Lewis. “Through our Educators of Distinction program and the grants we provide to support professional development and enrich classroom instruction, we hope to acknowledge and encourage the vital work of the teachers, counselors, and administrators who are shaping the intellect and character of young scholars.”

Congratulations to Austin’s Emily Hovland on being named the 2023–2024 Southeast Service Cooperative STEM Forward Outstanding Educator.

“I am incredibly fortunate to work with the students at Austin High School, and seeing them grow and reach new goals is one of the best parts of my job,” says Austin High School Packer Profile Coordinator Emily Hovland. “STEM education allows students to explore areas of interest, develop skills that will support them in their future endeavors, and allows them to engage in hands-on learning that is engaging and enriches their learning.”

The STEM Forward Outstanding Educator Award “recognizes K-12 professionals who strive toward the highest levels of excellence ... with a focus on initiative and continuous improvement in every aspect of their work.” Emily was selected in part because of her work with Mower County CEO. This program allows high school students to work with and learn from local business leaders as they create and develop their businesses.

A huge congratulations to Austin High School on being named a Special Olympics Unified Champion School!

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.

Congratulations to the following AHS coaches on winning Section Coach of the Year honors in 2023-2024!

• Anna Anderson (Section 1A Girls Diving Coach of the Year)
• Jeff Anderson (Section 1AA Boy Tennis Coach of the Year)
• Jens Levisen (Section 1AA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year)
• Ryan Mayers (Section 1AA Boys Soccer Assistant Coach of the Year)

Austin Public Schools’ More Than Pink program has won a Regional Project Award from the Minnesota Community Education Association. The award is “presented to outstanding projects that have exemplified the concept of Community Education.” The award will be presented to the Austin School Board by a representative of the MCEA at the December School Board Meeting.

Now in its tenth year, More Than Pink is a program designed for girls who have completed third through sixth grade to empower themselves and each other. This 6-week summer program innovatively weaves training for a 5K run with lessons that empower girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices and embrace their gifts. A More Than Pink day consists of 60 minutes of physical activity, a Topic Talk lesson and group time. Topics include self-worth, body image, nutrition, puberty, peer pressure and more. Strong female role models from our community lead our Topic Talks.

“More Than Pink has been an inspiring program in Austin for many years and has impacted hundreds of young women in our community,” says Community Education Director Jen Lawhead. “Our Community Education Coordinator, Teri Wermager, brought the program to Austin and has been not only its creator, but also its greatest champion. We are also grateful for the many amazing women from the Austin community who have volunteered their time and talent as guest speakers and fitness leaders for this program.”

The goals of More Than Pink are as follows: to help girls grow and develop mentally, physically, and socially with community support, to empower girls to be true to themselves, to gain healthy fitness habits that will have life-long benefits. The program concludes with a community 5K event that celebrates the learning, training, and community building that happened during the six-week program.

Austin’s Community Education program includes Austin Adult Learning, Community Education, Early Childhood Family Education, Early Childhood Preschool Programming, the Kids Korner program, and more.

Austin Public Schools Community Education Director Jen Lawhead was awarded a Regional Community Educator Award by the Minnesota Community Education Association. The award “recognizes, thanks, and celebrates the outstanding contributions made by practitioners and supporters of community education from across Minnesota. Nominees represent the best of the best: persons committed to working together, creating opportunities, persisting through challenges and partnering with others.”

“It has been my great privilege to work with Austin Public Schools as the Community Education Director for the past five years,” says Ms. Lawhead. “The incredible staff in this program serve our community members from the moment they are born, and all our programs embody the Austin Public Schools mission to inspire, empower, and accelerate our students and program participants. I am honored to have been nominated and to receive the Community Educator award from MCEA.”

Lawhead, who received the award at the Minnesota Community Education Conference last week, was one of nine recipients of the award in the state.

"Jen Lawhead's well-deserved recognition is a testament to her and the team's commitment to filling gaps and building bridges with the school district and our community," said Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page.

Lawhead oversees Austin’s Community Education program, including Austin Adult Learning, Community Education, Early Childhood Family Education, Early Childhood Preschool Programming, the Kids Korner program, and more.

A huge congratulations to IJ Holton Intermediate School on being named a Special Olympics Minnesota Unified Champion School!

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.

A huge congratulations to IJ Holton Intermediate School and Woodson Kindergarten Center on being named 2022-2023 PBIS Sustaining Exemplar schools, two of only 87 schools in the state!

According to a press release, "the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) recognize[d] 87 schools ... for their successful work during the 2022-23 school year engaging in sustained PBIS implementation, an evidence-based framework for preventing problem behavior, providing instruction and support for positive and prosocial behaviors, and supporting social, emotional and behavioral needs for all students."

Way to go, all!

Austin Public Schools has been named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. Austin is one of only seven districts in Minnesota to earn the honor.

Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page shared, “We are thrilled to be recognized nationally for our music program. Here in Austin, our music department excels not just in teaching students the fundamentals, such as how to read music, play an instrument, or sing, but also in imparting a deep appreciation for the powerful ways in which music impacts us. Not only is music a doorway to lifelong learning, but it is also an instrument for cultural appreciation and understanding.”

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well. In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

According to Christoph Dundas, Austin High School band director, “Music connects students, both within themselves and with others around them. Performing music enables students to simultaneously use both the artistic and technical sides of their brains to create something both technically precise and beautiful. It teaches critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and perseverance. But most importantly, music education teaches students to connect with each other and the world around them. It is a universal language shared by students around the world.”

Austin Public Schools has been recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) with multiple Digital Media Excellence Awards. NSPRA’s Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards “recognize outstanding education publications and marketing/informational materials, video/TV/radio programs, social media, and websites.”

NSPRA’s Digital Media Excellence Awards are given out at three levels (Excellence, Merit, and Honorable Mention), and all three of Austin’s awards are at the Excellence level, a huge achievement for the district.

Austin received the following awards:

• an E-Newsletter Award of Excellence recognizing the Austin Packer Bulletin, a weekly superintendent newsletter for the community of Austin (https://www.smore.com/xeyc9),
• an Internet Website Award of Excellence for Accelerate Austin, the district’s referendum information site (https://accelerateaustin.org),
• and a Video Award of Excellence for What is the Packer Profile, an informational video describing the district’s upcoming Packer Profile initiative (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5G_K9z_Qns)

“Our objective with strong school communications is to serve the public by keeping everyone informed and emphasizing the significant work of the Austin Public Schools,” says Austin Superintendent Dr. Joey Page. “It's an honor to be acknowledged by NSPRA and award-winning communication professionals.”

According to Communications Coordinator Ryan Mayers, “there are a lot of innovative and successful programs at Austin Public Schools. Seeing them recognized means a lot to everyone in the district and is a real credit to the community.”

Austin Public Schools was named a recipient of the 2023 School Finance Award by the Minnesota Department of Education. The award is given "annually by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Division of School Finance, to recognize schools for meeting statutory deadlines for submission of audited fiscal financial data and reporting criteria."

This recognition helps highlight Austin's Strategic Priority #4: Excellence in resource management, and is a testament to our staff's hard work and dedication to being good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the Austin community.

Austin's Sheila Berger was named the recipient of the 2023 Elbert K. Fretwell Outstanding Educator Award. The award is given "to those who improve students' lives by proactively modeling and teaching scouting values." Berger was nominated for her work as principal at Sumner Elementary School.