Anoka High School Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)

Last time I checked - 3/20/2020 - there were 239 visitors to this page. You are the 240th set of eyes. Welcome!

I've walked the halls, kept mostly positive vibes, and helped students succeed at Anoka since 2009. I want to help you or (if you're a parent checking in) your student find success and joy with the English language. I believe in building a community, bringing positive energy, staying focused and disciplined with goals, and helping my students take another step toward finding their best selves.

My name is Blair Hull and I've had the pleasure of working at Anoka High School since October of 2009. I started my teaching career at the University of Northern Iowa where I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Teaching. I performed my student teaching at Davenport North High School and North Scott Middle School. After student teaching, I moved to Gambell, Alaska - look that up on Google Maps - where I taught reading and language arts. Not being suited to the arctic cold, I moved to Roseburg, OR and taught 8th graders at Winston Middle School. Then, in my 28th year of life, I moved to Andover, MN and began working at Anoka High School as a special education paraprofessional with the LAUNCH program. After two excellent years, I was hired as an English Teacher (2011). Since then, I've mainly taught English 9. In my time here, I've worn many hats. I've assisted with the wrestling, debate, speech, chess, and robotics programs and I served as the adviser of The Anokan, Anoka High School's yearbook, for four years. I've been a part of the 9th Grade Curriculum Writing Committee for five years and, in general, I've tried to remain an active staff member at Anoka. 

Outside of school, my passions are health, reading and fitness. I specifically enjoy cooking and baking plant based meals and am constantly in pursuit of the next best grain salad. My current favorite is a farro, kale and goat cheese salad offered up by food blogger, Cookie and Kate. In regard to fitness, I'm a runner who loves open roads with all kinds of time. I love short and long distances, but I try to run a marathon every fall before I cozy up next to the fireplace for Minnesota's long winters with a stack of good books. Some of my recent favorite reads are The Grace Year, Exit West and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

By keeping mentally and physically healthy, I am better able to provide the energy and work ethic to serve the great students who find their way into room L138. Over the past decade at Anoka, I've shared this space with many students from many different backgrounds and belief sets. I've read thousands of personal narratives and research papers; I've helped thousands of students overcome the fear of speaking. I've struggled and succeeded. The one constant at Anoka, the one quality I've found that sets this school apart from the schools I've taught at in Iowa and Alaska and Oregon, is the pursuit of community. This is a vision shared by the students, staff and community members of Anoka.

Thank you for visiting this page and for trusting me with your education. I am not perfect, but I work hard and I work from the belief that I am here to help you accomplish your goals and to help you find joy. 

-Blair