It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Prior Lake Mural gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Prior Lake, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lakefront Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Perron's Sul Lago or visit Lakefront Park, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Prior Lake, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Prior Lake, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Prior Lake, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
A long-awaited Shakopee amphitheater won’t host its first concert for nearly a year, but the venue officially has a name.Mystic Lake Amphitheater will welcome thousands of fans come summer 2026, officials said at a Tuesday morning news conference, injecting a bit of excitement into a project that’s faced significant delays.The name is a partnership between the multinational entertainment company and the nearby casino and hotel owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC). The venue is expected to generat...
A long-awaited Shakopee amphitheater won’t host its first concert for nearly a year, but the venue officially has a name.
Mystic Lake Amphitheater will welcome thousands of fans come summer 2026, officials said at a Tuesday morning news conference, injecting a bit of excitement into a project that’s faced significant delays.
The name is a partnership between the multinational entertainment company and the nearby casino and hotel owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC). The venue is expected to generate 700 jobs and bring a $138 million economic impact to the area, said Jason Moutry, a Live Nation general manager.
Josh Lacey, a Minnesota-based market president for Live Nation, said in an interview that it’s too early to say what the collaboration will entail beyond naming rights.
“We’re really excited to be able to partner with a local entity on the naming rights for this new facility, and Mystic Lake was a really natural fit with their deep ties to this community and their expertise in hospitality and entertainment,” Lacey said.
Mystic Lake, which opened in 1992, is one of several entertainment ventures the SMSC owns, including a Prior Lake casino and a golf course. Angela Heikes, the president and CEO of the tribe’s gaming enterprise, said the project reflects the tribal community’s longstanding effort to “be a good neighbor.”
The partnership will entail an “integration” between the casino and concert venue before and after shows. Heikes called it “keeping the party going.”
Initially set to open this summer, the Mystic Lake Amphitheater will be the crown jewel of an emerging entertainment district called Canterbury Commons when construction concludes. Officials hope the amphitheater will draw more people to a city already known for its amenities.
Shakopee Mayor Matt Lehman previously told the Star Tribune that supply line issues were to blame for the delay. On Tuesday morning, he struck a more optimistic tone.
“There isn’t a bad seat in the place,” he said.
Live Nation, the company that owns Ticketmaster, will operate the amphitheater, which is taking shape near gambling and horse racing destination Canterbury Park. Swervo Development Corp., the company that transformed the Armory in downtown Minneapolis into a concert venue, is constructing the south metro venue.
Lacey said Live Nation will announce the concert schedule for the summer 2026 season at a later date, but he anticipates the venue will attract “top touring talent.”
Mystic Lake Amphitheater isn’t the only outdoor venue that will soon expand concert options for music fans in the Twin Cities and its suburbs. The Minneapolis City Council recently approved plans for an 8,000-seat amphitheater on the banks of the Mississippi River in the city’s North Side.
Shakopee’s amphitheater will anchor a nearby entertainment district that could include breweries, restaurants and hotels. The venue itself will feature permanent seats and chair-free general admission, plus concessions and paved parking lots.
Construction is well underway. The Tuesday morning news conference took place in a ground-floor concessions area overlooking the stage. Renderings flashing on flatscreen TVs behind the bar displayed the covered amphitheater overlooking a sprawling lawn fit for thousands of concertgoers.
“Minnesota is one of the best music markets anywhere, so we couldn’t be more excited to bring a world-class venue to Minnesota,” Lacey said.
The amphitheater set to become Minnesota's largest outdoor music venue officially has a name.During an event held on Tuesday morning, state and local leaders announced the 19,000-seat Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee is set to open in the summer of 2026 with a slate of 30 events scheduled.In all, Live Nation Entertainment and Mystic Lake — the latter owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community — expect an annual economic impact of more than $130 million, as well as 700 permanent jobs.Mi...
The amphitheater set to become Minnesota's largest outdoor music venue officially has a name.
During an event held on Tuesday morning, state and local leaders announced the 19,000-seat Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee is set to open in the summer of 2026 with a slate of 30 events scheduled.
In all, Live Nation Entertainment and Mystic Lake — the latter owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community — expect an annual economic impact of more than $130 million, as well as 700 permanent jobs.
Minneapolis-based Swervo Development Corporation is building the amphitheater on 37 acres of land purchased from Canterbury Park, and last year promised visitors "breathtaking 360-degree views of the Minnesota River Valley," along with "expansive hangout spaces both indoors and outside" and "full season packages in luxury suites and boxes."
Swervo also said the amphitheater will also serve as the "anchor tenant" to the $400 million Canterbury Commons project.
Thanks to new legislation, parts of Shakopee — including Canterbury and downtown — will become a social district starting next month, meaning folks can stroll around while sipping alcoholic beverages.
It's a move city and state leaders say will help elevate the experience.
"We do hospitality well down here. We've done hospitality well down here for decades," said state Sen. Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake. "When you think of Valleyfair, and Canterbury [Park], and Mystic Lake [Casino] and the Renaissance Festival, this is who we are."
This will be the fifth venue operated by Live Nation in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, alongside the Fillmore Minneapolis next to Target Field, Uptown Theater, Varsity Theater and the Somerset Amphitheater.
Beret Leone
Beret Leone is a native Minnesotan who joined the WCCO team as a reporter in September 2022 - and she's thrilled be back home in the Twin Cities! Beret grew up in Chaska and graduated from Bethel University.
A Prior Lake teacher has sued her school district in federal court for disciplining her over an immigration-related social media post, alleging that her constitutional rights were violated.Brooke Zahn, who teaches fourth grade at Jeffers Pond Elementary School in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district, says in her lawsuit that she was punished because of her personal use of social media. She had reshared an image in December 2024 advocating the deportation of families with mixed immigration status to their native countries....
A Prior Lake teacher has sued her school district in federal court for disciplining her over an immigration-related social media post, alleging that her constitutional rights were violated.
Brooke Zahn, who teaches fourth grade at Jeffers Pond Elementary School in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district, says in her lawsuit that she was punished because of her personal use of social media. She had reshared an image in December 2024 advocating the deportation of families with mixed immigration status to their native countries.
Zahn had been disciplined in 2021 for anti-masking posts made during the COVID-19 pandemic, an episode that is also part of her lawsuit.
“I love my job as a teacher, and I am proud of my right to free speech,” Zahn said in a news release Aug. 22, the week she filed the suit. “The district’s decision to punish me for my private opinions was wrong.
“I am standing up for my rights as a citizen and to ensure this doesn’t happen to other teachers.”
In an email to the Sahan Journal, district officials declined to comment on pending litigation. Zahn did not respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this year, Zahn sent a letter to the district threatening to sue if it did not give her back pay for her suspension in December, issue a formal apology and rescind the disciplinary action against her.
Zahn’s attorney, Doug Seaton, told Sahan Journal that district officials refused her requests.
Seaton said he’s “very confident” that Zahn’s lawsuit will succeed. He cited a 2022 lawsuit his law firm won representing a group of parents and students who sued Lakeville Area Schools over teachers displaying “Black Lives Matter” posters in class. The district paid the law firm $30,000 last spring to settle the suit, and teachers took down the posters.
Zahn is seeking monetary relief for lost wages during her suspension and the time she spent taking a cultural competency training class as part of her 2024 discipline. She also wants the district to remove the 2021 and 2024 disciplinary letters from her personnel file.
“The school district doesn’t have a right to approve or disapprove of her private speech as a citizen,” Seaton said of Zahn’s case.
Zahn was hired to teach at Jeffers Pond in 2016. She earned her teaching certification at the University of Minnesota and previously taught in Ohio, Massachusetts and Texas.
The district suspended her without pay for seven days in December and ordered her to take the cultural competency class after she reshared an image in a private Facebook group of a cartoon family with the words, “A FAMILY THAT IS DEPORTED TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.”
After Zahn shared the post, according to the lawsuit, nonmembers of the group and people from “activist groups” began spreading it publicly online. After she was identified as a Prior Lake teacher, Zahn deactivated her Facebook account.
About two dozen emails to the school district raised concerns about the post, but Zahn said they did not come from parents of children in her class.
The lawsuit says district officials emailed families in December about the post, which brought it more attention, and that they expressed “disapproval” of Zahn’s “outside-of-work comments.”
Zahn “felt the need” to remove herself from school committees and eat lunch in her classroom after she returned from her suspension, according to the suit.
The district’s disciplinary letter for the December post said it caused “significant educational disruption across the district.” Some parents asked to have their children taken out of Zahn’s class, or to not have them placed in her class in the future, according to the letter.
The letter also referred to two previous violations by Zahn of the district’s social media policy.
Sahan Journal obtained Zahn’s personnel file, which showed that the district reprimanded her in 2021 for social media posts about her refusal to wear a mask during the pandemic and for not requiring her students to wear masks in her classroom.
“I will not be covering my face, I will not require my kids to, and if others will take a stand and do the same, we will be an army that puts an end to this nonsensical battle,” she wrote in one post, according to the district’s 2021 disciplinary letter.
She was ordered to review district policies, not engage in retaliation and to refrain from similar conduct in the future. She was also suspended for four days without pay that year for refusing to require her students to wear masks.
A Prior Lake teacher is suing her school district for disciplining her for an immigration-related social media post, alleging that her constitutional rights were violated.Brooke Zahn, who teaches fourth grade at Jeffers Pond Elementary school in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district, said in her lawsuit that she was “punished” because of her personal use of social media. She reshared an image last December advocating for deporting families with mixed immigration status back to their native countries. She was previous...
A Prior Lake teacher is suing her school district for disciplining her for an immigration-related social media post, alleging that her constitutional rights were violated.
Brooke Zahn, who teaches fourth grade at Jeffers Pond Elementary school in the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools district, said in her lawsuit that she was “punished” because of her personal use of social media. She reshared an image last December advocating for deporting families with mixed immigration status back to their native countries. She was previously disciplined for making posts in 2021 that promoted anti-masking during the COVID-19 pandemic; that incident is also part of her lawsuit.
“I love my job as a teacher, and I am proud of my right to free speech,” Zahn said in a news release issued last Friday about the lawsuit. “The district’s decision to punish me for my private opinions was wrong. I am standing up for my rights as a citizen and to ensure this doesn’t happen to other teachers.”
The district said in an email statement to the Sahan Journal that it would not comment on pending litigation. Zahn filed her lawsuit in federal court last week; she did not respond to requests seeking comment.
Earlier this year, Zahn sent a letter to the district threatening to sue if they did not provide back pay for her seven-day suspension, issue a formal apology and rescind the disciplinary action against her. Zahn’s attorney, Doug Seaton, told Sahan Journal Tuesday that the district refused to fulfill her requests.
Seaton said he’s “very confident” that Zahn’s lawsuit will succeed, citing a 2022 lawsuit his law firm won representing a group of parents and students who sued Lakeville Area Schools over teachers displaying “Black Lives Matter” posters in class. The Lakeville school district paid the law firm $30,000 to settle the lawsuit this past April, and teachers took down the posters.
Zahn’s lawsuit is asking the district for monetary relief of “lost wages” and time she spent taking a cultural competency class as part of her 2024 discipline. She is also requesting that the district remove the 2024 and 2021 disciplinary letters from her personnel file.
“The school district doesn’t have a right to approve or disapprove of her private speech as a citizen,” Seaton said of Zahn’s case.
The district suspended Zahn without pay for seven days last December and ordered her to take a cultural competency training class after she reshared an image of a cartoon family and the words, “A FAMILY THAT IS DEPORTED TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER,” in a Facebook group. She deactivated her Facebook account and is currently teaching at Jeffers Pond.
Zahn was hired in 2016 as an elementary teacher at Jeffers Pond Elementary School. She earned her teaching certification at the University of Minnesota, and previously taught in Ohio, Massachusetts and Texas.
According to Zahn’s lawsuit: She shared the post in a private Facebook group, and people who were not members of that group and people from “activist groups” began spreading it publicly online. Eventually, Zahn was identified as a Prior Lake teacher. About two dozen emails to the school district raised concerns about the post; Zahn said they did not come from parents with children in her class.
The lawsuit says the district emailed families in December 2024 about her post, which drew more attention to the post and expressed “disapproval” of Zahn’s “outside-of-work comments.”
Zahn “felt the need” to remove herself from school committees and eat lunch in her classroom alone after she returned from her suspension, according to the suit.
The district’s disciplinary letter for the December Facebook post said the post caused “significant educational disruption across the district.” Some parents asked to remove their children from Zahn’s class, or to not have their children placed in her class in the future, according to the letter. It also referenced her two previous violations of the district’s social media policy.
Sahan Journal obtained Zahn’s personnel file earlier this year, which showed that the district first reprimanded Zahn in 2021 for making social media posts about her refusal to wear a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic and not requiring her students to wear masks in her classroom. She received another disciplinary letter from the district the next month for not requiring her students to wear masks.
“I will not be covering my face, I will not require my kids to, and if others will take a stand and do the same, we will be an army that puts an end to this nonsensical battle,” she wrote in one post, according to the district’s 2021 disciplinary letter.
She was ordered to review district policies, not engage in retaliation and to refrain from similar conduct in the future. She was also suspended for four days without pay that year for refusing to require her students to wear masks.
A lawsuit filed earlier this week by a teacher claims the Prior Lake school district violated her right to freedom of speech after a social media post made in a private Facebook group was shared publicly, and claims that the district suspended her without pay.The suit — filed on Wednesday by Brooke Zahn against Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, Superintendent Dr. Michael Thomas and Jeffers Pond Elementary principal Patrick Glynn — argues public employers don't have the authority to punish an employee for comments made outsid...
A lawsuit filed earlier this week by a teacher claims the Prior Lake school district violated her right to freedom of speech after a social media post made in a private Facebook group was shared publicly, and claims that the district suspended her without pay.
The suit — filed on Wednesday by Brooke Zahn against Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, Superintendent Dr. Michael Thomas and Jeffers Pond Elementary principal Patrick Glynn — argues public employers don't have the authority to punish an employee for comments made outside the workplace. Zahn also says retaliation and viewpoint discrimination were used to violate her right to free speech.
Zahn, who has worked as a teacher in the district since Aug. 2016, according to the lawsuit, had a personal Facebook account using her maiden name that wasn't used for work purposes until she deactivated it earlier this year. In addition, it had a section in the "intro" section of her profile that said, "The views I share are mine & mine alone and only represent me." She was a member of a private group called "Prior Lake Light Hearted Conservative Group US," according to the lawsuit, and was interested in a political debate that spread across the country regarding immigration and border security.
The lawsuit goes on to say Zahn knew Thomas Homan, the former Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and current "border czar," said "'families can be deported' together" toward the end of 2024.
According to the lawsuit, Zahn posted the below image to the Facebook group on a Sunday afternoon "because she believed that the immigration laws should neither go unenforced nor cause family members to be separated" from each other; because she wanted to support Mr. Homan's then recent-proposal; and because it is a play on the saying, "the family that prays together stays together," which the suit argues is well-known in conservative and religious circles as a commentary on the importance of family unity.
Her post was then shared outside the private group, including a group called Troublemakers Alliance, on the social media site BlueSky. She was eventually identified as a teacher in the district, and people who disagreed with her political views began contacting the district and asking that she be punished.
Nearly two dozen emails were sent to the district about this, according to the court document, which goes on to say none of the messages are believed to have had a child learning in her classroom. The district then sent an email to families with children at the school, as well as staff not only at Jeffers Pond but also the district, referring to "concerns ... about a recent social media post allegedly connected to a staff member," and then invited anyone with questions or concerns about the school climate or culture to express them.
About another two dozen emails were sent to the district in the following weeks regarding the post, with some supporting her and others against it.
In the weeks that followed, Zahn said she was put on seven days of unpaid suspension, was ordered to not post content on social media that "could reasonably be perceived as inconsistent with your role as a District employee," and to go through cultural competence and inclusion professional development training.
The lawsuit goes on to say Zahn had been given a disciplinary letter in 2021 after speaking out on social media regarding masking requirements in school due to COVID-19. The letter ordered her to "avoid any conduct that is the same or similar to the described incident."
In a statement made through a news release, Zahn said she loves her job and is proud of her right to free speech.
"The district's decision to punish me for my private opinions was wrong. I am standing up for my rights as a citizen and to ensure this doesn't happen to other teachers," continued Zahn, who is seeking a declaration from the defendants that they violated her rights, an injunction to remove disciplinary action from her record, as well as reimbursement for lost wages, attorneys' fees and emotional stress.
WCCO reached out to the district for comment, and a representative responded that the district does not comment on pending litigation.
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