In many ways, Minnesota public schools are interwoven into our state's fabric, yet they are often overlooked. Therefore, we celebrate public schools from February 27 to March 3 and consider how they affect us.

For generations, public schools in our state have been the center of our communities. Public schools are places where all families feel welcomed and where all children, regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, native language, zip code, or socioeconomic status, are loved, respected, and celebrated.

In the Austin Public Schools, we are especially proud of the dedication of past generations of leaders who worked to ensure that our children received a quality education. Although our public schools have served our communities for decades, they constantly evolve. In our district and in public schools across Minnesota, teachers, staff members, and administrators work with our families to ensure that the next generation of graduates has the knowledge and skills required for a successful future.

Great things are happening at Austin Public Schools! With a wide range of partnerships and programs to benefit our students, staff, and the community, our Packer Pride shines through in all we do. Check out our Points of Pride page here.

As we celebrate Public Schools Week, we recognize the amazing individuals who teach students in the classroom, drive school buses, prepare nutritious meals, support students' mental and emotional health, maintain and repair buildings, and give so much of themselves to support our schools and our students.

We also recognize that public schools are a significant economic driver for our communities, as they prepare students for today's jobs and the future jobs required for our dynamic economy. It is no wonder that the state's economy is connected to the quality of our public schools.

We must not take the historical success of Minnesota's public schools for granted. Instead, we must acknowledge that this success results from the hard work and investment of generations of Minnesotans who came before us. We must care for the gift of public school education that we will hand to future generations.

Our schools cannot do it alone. They need the assistance of our families and communities to provide the resources and support needed to help students thrive. Please show our support for the Austin Public Schools and the dedicated people working tirelessly to provide a high-quality education for all our children.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent

Live Webinar: Advancing Teaching and Learning-Post-Pandemic, Feb. 28, 2-3 pm ET

Join us as we hear from national education leaders about how districts, schools, and education professionals have been creating conditions that advance teaching and learning. This live panel webinar will be streamed on Learning First Alliance (LFA) and its members' social media channels.

Twitter Chat: Engaging Your Community, Mar. 1, 7-7:45 pm ET #PSW23Engage

Join school leaders, parents, experts, and more in discussing best and promising approaches to strengthen family/school/community engagement.

Live Webinar: The Language of Connection to Build Community Relationships, Mar. 2, 2-3 pm ET

What do businesses and community leaders need to hear about their local public schools? Learn about how teachers, counselors, school board leaders, and administrators expand their engagement with the public. This live panel webinar will be streamed on LFA and its members' social media channels.

This past Saturday, three Austin gymnasts qualified for state:

• Kiki Rodriguez (Vault & Floor)
• Katelyn Klouse (Bars & Beam)
• Hannah Fritz (Vault & Bars)

The State Gymnastics Meet will be held Saturday, February 25, at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Class A kicks off at 6:00 PM. We are proud of you!

The Ellis Middle School Drama Club presents Aladdin Jr. on March 17 and March 18. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for students, and children ages 5 & under are free. Come on out for a great night!

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,823 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FFA's mission is to make a positive difference in students' lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information about our Austin FFA Chapter, please contact:

Kim Schechinger

Nick Schiltz

Established in 1971, Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) system serves 35 member libraries in 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota with a unique blend of rural and urban community libraries. SELCO and SELS are proud to offer a wide range of support services designed to enrich and enhance libraries in Southeastern Minnesota. Learn more here.

February 15 was National School Resource Officer (SRO) Recognition day, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank our hard-working SROs for their assistance and commitment to making our schools safe places to teach and learn.

We thank them for all they do to make APS a great place to learn!

February 22 was School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Every day, our bus drivers help to transport nearly 4,000 students safely to and from school. Each year, our drivers cover more than 335,000 miles – more than the distance from the earth to the moon! Our bus drivers are a vital part of our students’ lives, and in many cases, they represent the first and last school figures students see every day.

The next time you see a school bus driver, be sure thank them for all they do for our students.

• Tips for enjoying your empty nest

• The W-Curve Model: Understanding a new college student's experience
• What's your family's digital diet plan?

Palmer Bus Service is looking for school bus drivers. This is an excellent opportunity for retirees, farmers, snowbirds, teachers, coaches, school staff, parents of young children, and more. Check out the flyer below and contact Palmer Bus Service of Austin at 507-433-5358 or trinar@palmerbusservice.com for more information!

In this week's Alumni Spotlight, we catch up with alumnus Dale Anderson.

Are you an alumnus of Austin Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

We're excited to hear about your accomplishments and are eager to share your successes and advice with our current students, families, and the Austin community. Please take a few minutes to complete the quick questionnaire at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/alumni-spotlight regarding your current position and your career trajectory.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing all your wonderful stories!

At Austin Public Schools, our mission is to inspire, empower, and accelerate every one of our learners, and we know that the only way for us to reach this goal is through the efforts of all our incredibly hard-working staff.

In this week’s Staff Spotlight, we’re highlighting AHS Language Arts Teacher Melissa Nangle.

"She cares about kids more than just their grade. She wants students to be successful not just in her classroom but in life. She will go above and beyond to help you, no matter what the problem is."

Congratulations!

If you’d like to nominate an outstanding Austin Public Schools staff member for our weekly Staff Spotlight, please take a moment to fill out the form at https://www.austin.k12.mn.us/district-resources/staff-spotlight. It only takes a minute and can truly make someone’s day. Thanks!

• Podcast: The Mass Shooter Database

• How transferring in Minnesota high school sports reached 'out of control' status
• Analysis: How Minnesota's school funding leaves the most in-need districts behind
• By the Numbers: What's behind public school enrollment declines?
• Is this the artificial intelligence tipping point? The rise of ChatGPT

APS offers a wide range of student activities, including competitive athletics, intramurals, academic clubs, fine arts, and performing arts. View schedules and learn more here.

Are you interested in having an impact on students' lives? Check out our Employment page to see our current openings!

You can review previous issues here.