ANOKA, Minn. (Oct. 4, 2013) – Anoka-Hennepin Schools Community Education Director Steve Kerr was honored last week by being named the Minnesota Community Educator of the Year. The Minnesota Community Education Association will recognize Kerr with this title at its annual conference held on Oct. 30 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Minneapolis. Kerr was selected based on his vast professional accomplishments and long-time involvement in his legislative efforts with the association. He has served on various committees as board member and president, and is a longtime advocate for Adult Basic Education and Early Learning.
Originally from East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Kerr pursued a degree in the emerging field of community education at Mankato State University. Upon graduation, he began his career at Anoka-Hennepin Schools in 1977 as Assistant Community School Coordinator. He remained there until 1980 when he was hired as the Director of Community Education in the same small school district where he spent his childhood.
In 1983, Kerr was hired by the City of Blaine as the Community School Coordinator for five years until returning to the Anoka-Hennepin School District. He served in various community education roles before being named Director in 2004.
Under Kerr’s leadership, the Anoka-Hennepin Community Education program began piloting intensive preschool programs in 2004 to provide targeted students with additional academic support before entering the K-12 education track. Community volunteers have now begun to align their time in the classroom with teachers’ lesson plans and the school district’s curriculum efforts. In addition, increased emphasis has been placed on reading, writing, and counting for pre-K students.
Former and current Adult Basic Education students regularly send letters to Kerr, sharing how the classes they have taken have helped them speak English, land a job, and provide for their families.
