Thirteen outstanding district employees were honored as the Anoka-Hennepin School District’s 2017-18 Above & Beyond Award winners during an award ceremony held for them on April 19 at the Educational Service Center in Anoka.

View photos and watch the video from this year's ceremony.

Read more about each of the winners:

• Gary Cocchiarella, building supervisor, Mississippi Elementary School
• Barb Graen, media paraprofessional, Oxbow Creek Elementary School
• Stacy Kilmer, science teacher, Oak View Middle School
• Karen Larson, special education paraprofessional, Anoka Middle School for the Arts
• Carol Leafblad, kindergarten teacher, Madison Elementary School
• Stacy Madsen, first-grade teacher, Lincoln Elementary School for the Arts
• Marceline (Marcy) Marquardt, physical education teacher, Monroe Elementary School
• Julia Messenger, school social worker, Northdale Middle School
• Betsy Nordin, sixth-grade ELA and reading strategies teacher, Oak View Middle School
• Dr. Lisa M. Silmser, fifth-grade ELA teacher, Monroe Elementary School
• D'Andrea Westbrook, student achievement advisor, Champlin Park High School
• Jessica Wippler, principal, Dayton Elementary School
• Alyssa Zemple, school counselor, Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) and StepAhead Online High School

The Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation (AHEF) and the Anoka-Hennepin School District sponsor the Above & Beyond Awards program jointly. Its mission is to recognize outstanding employees for innovation, creativity, caring and commitment. Award recipients were nominated by parents, students and colleagues and were selected by a panel of community representatives, staff and principals.