Lakeville

Knudsen named as a top administrator

Barbara Knudsen, executive director of teaching and learning for the Lakeville district, was recently named an Outstanding Central Office Leader by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA). She will be honored at the MASA/MASE Spring Conference, held on March 13 and 14 in Brooklyn Park.

Knudsen was recognized for her willingness to take risks, strong communication skills and high expectations for herself and others. In recent years she has helped the district develop Link12 Lakeville; an online school, Impact Academy; a non-graded elementary school program; a high school business academy, and a digital learning department to support the district's staff and students. She has worked for the district for more than 16 years.

Convent of the Visitation

Hickok Social Studies Teacher of the Year

Molly Hickok, a second-grade teacher from the Convent of the Visitation, was recently named the Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies. She has been teaching at the school for nine years and is a Visitation alumna.

Hickok will be honored at the council's annual gala dinner on March 2 in Bloomington along with several other Minnesota social studies teachers. Brian Traxler, president of the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies, will present her with the award. Traxler is also a social studies teacher at Visitation.

Rosemount- Apple Valley-Eagan

Seniors may apply for $2,000 scholarship

The Southview Elementary PTO will again award a scholarship to a graduating senior in the district who also attended Southview Elementary. The scholarship amount is being matched by the family of Paul Rice, the first principal of the Apple Valley school, this year, bringing the total award to $2,000. The money can be used for any postsecondary training or education at an accredited institution.

The scholarship will be awarded by a committee of teachers and parents based upon an application and an essay from the student. The application can be obtained at Southview or at any district high school. The application deadline is April 7.

Farmington

'Farmington New School' accepting applications

The Farmington school board recently voted to continue to support the creation of a new school, opening in fall 2014. The school will be project-based, involving students moving at their own pace and learning in multi-age groups. The district will soon begin posting for positions for current teachers in the district and will also hold a series of informational and registration meetings for the school.

More information and a registration form can be found at www.tiny.cc/192NewSchool. Families seeking to enroll students should submit their applications before April 1 to be considered for the lottery.

The schedule of information meetings:

• 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Countryview Community Room, 5775 Countryview Trail, Farmington

• 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, North Trail Elementary School Media Center, 5580 W. 170th St., Farmington

• 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 27, Community Ed Center at Meadowview Elementary, Room 104, 6100 W. 195th St., Farmington

• 5 to 6 p.m. March 3, Akin Road Elementary School Media Center, 5231 195th St., Farmington

• 7 to 8 p.m. March 3, Riverview Elementary School Media Center, 4200 W. 208th St., Farmington

Burnsville- Eagan-Savage

District discussion on race, culture and community

The school district is inviting residents to join Superintendent Joe Gothard to explore important community issues at the first of two "Community Conversations." The upcoming session is on race, culture and community, and will feature speaker Janice Porter, principal of Burnsville Alternative High School, who will share her experience of being the first in her family to graduate from college and growing up in the South. Also discussed will be how race affects student learning in the district. Refreshments will be served.

The session will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Campus Cup on the upper level of the Diamondhead Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Pkwy., Burnsville.

Erin Adler