Austin PS welcomes new elementary SPED supervisor
Apr. 8—The Austin Public Schools Special Services department hired Pam Anfinson as the district's new Elementary Special Education Supervisor.
"Austin Public Schools is excited to welcome Pam Anfinson back to the district as Elementary Special Education Supervisor," said Executive Director of Special Services Sheri Willrodt. "Pam was a long-time teacher and special education leader in our district prior to leaving the district three years ago to gain administrative experience. She will be a great asset to our elementary team."
Anfinson has worked in special education for more than 20 years, most recently as the director of Early Learning for Albert Lea Public Schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), a Master of Education in Math & Science, and a Director of Special Education Specialist in Educational Leadership Administrative License from Minnesota State University Moorhead.
"I am deeply grateful to the Austin School District for providing me with the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion for Special Education," said Anfinson. "I am excited to extend my commitment to supporting our elementary students and staff. By prioritizing open communication and collaboration, I aim to foster a nurturing and inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and heard. It is truly an honor to serve as the Elementary Special Education Supervisor for Austin Public Schools. I look forward to building meaningful, lasting relationships with the dedicated staff, students, and families in this wonderful community. Together, we will continue to create an environment where all children have the opportunity to thrive."
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The show aired from 1974 to 2016 and featured live music, comedy sketches and a weekly report from the fictitious Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon. Keillor stumbled upon the name when he was in the Fargo-Moorhead area for a reading. The morning after a post-reading party, he went for a walk in Moorhead and saw the sign for Prairie Home Cemetery, he told The Forum in 2004. The name stuck with him. "When you tell stories about the Minnesota of your childhood, you are tending a sort of cemetery, and so the name seemed appropriate," Keillor said. While the biggest visual changes to the cemetery happened long ago, Skavlem's work never ends as he does the day-to-day maintenance of cutting the grass, trimming trees and making repairs to the aging cemetery. "We used to have a sign over there a long time ago, that said 'restoration project underway' or whatever," Skavlem said, beckoning to the entrance of the cemetery. 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