Carissa Hopkins-Hoel 
Ayan Omar has had quite a journey to her language arts classroom at Tech High School. Omar, born in Somalia, came to the United States in 1993 as a refugee and started her public education in Georgia. “My life started here in public education,” she says. “One of the reasons I became a teacher was … Read more
“I’m used to falling off,” laughs third-grader Jonathan Morales. But, Morales gets right back on his bike and goes at it again. “I’m still kind of learning how to ride,” he admits. For the past four weeks, Discovery Community School, in partnership with BLEND of CentraCare, has been teaching students in grades three through five how to … Read more
Josh Hagemeister may have just become famous for being chosen as an official fishing guide to Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, but he’s already held in high esteem as a Tech High School graduate of 1989. Hagemeister started his fishing guide business in high school. Dreaming of always owning a guide … Read more
Many generations grew up with the boogie man and “stranger danger.” Kids were taught to distrust anyone they didn’t know. Books and videos were about the “scary man” that could come take children away. Most communication about child safety was, therefore, fear-based. However, Alison Feigh from the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (JWRC) has new strategies for … Read more
For police officer Greg Klinefelter, St. Cloud is in his blood. As a 1987 graduate of Apollo High School and St. Cloud State University graduate, the St. Cloud community is his home. Klinefelter looks back on Apollo with fond memories. “Back then, it was the modular system at Apollo, and it felt so different,” says … Read more