As chair of the St. Peter school board, I am very, very fortunate to work with a dedicated group of directors.  Every one of the accomplishments of our district is a team effort of staff, teachers, administration, and school board members.  To be elected as the chair of this district is a tremendous honor.

The St. Peter school district is moving forward on a number of important initiatives.  You can read more on the following plans:

“St Peter seeks grant to improve school Routes”

Mankato Free Press, June 29, 2006

 http://www.mankatofreepress.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_180004829.html

“Wind entices St. Peter schools”

Mankato Free Press, May 11, 2006

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_131005235.html

“Our View–Nursing home, early education plan has merit”

Mankato Free Press, March 15, 2006

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_074010156.html

Thanks to everyone for the enthusiastic turn-out for St. Peter’s Fourth of July Parade!

St. Peter Fourth of July Parade

The greeting at our house was terrific!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Historic preservation is an important part of my life, building upon my love of American history.  In St. Peter, I joined the city’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) after the tornado—it was a way to repay the government support we received to restore our house. The HPC was a great group of people to work with, as was the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). 

When I became chair of the St. Peter HPC, I worked with Susan Roth of SHPO to reintroduce the idea of placing buildings in St. Peter’s historic commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places.  We held information sessions with local owners and answered questions about the process.  This approach worked and, in 2001, 33 buildings in St. Peter’s commercial district were placed on the National Register.

Education:

St. Peter Board of Education (2002-present; chair: 2004-present) 

Committee memberships while on school board:

• Early Childhood/Kindergarten Center Committee
• Legislative Liason
• Negotiations Committee  *involved in negotiations of more than 30 contracts
• Personnel Committee
• Policy Review Committee 
• Referendum Information Committee
• School-City Committee
• School-City-Gustavus Committee
• Schools for Equity in Education

Minnesota Valley Education District (member: 2002-present; chair: 2004-present)

Member, Nicollet County Collaborative Advisory Council

Coach, St. Peter Soccer Association

Historic Preservation: 

Member, Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office, National Register of Historic Places Review Board

St. Peter Heritage Preservation Commission (member and chair)

* 33 buildings in St. Peter’s historic commercial district placed on National Register of Historic Places with cooperation of local business community

Law and Legal Ethics:

Lecturer, Legal Argumentation and Ethics

Recent presentations:

• Federal Bar Association (2006)
• Minnesota County Attorneys Association (2005)

San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Consumer Fraud Unit

Yolo County Public Defenders Office

Arts:

Advisory Board Member, Arts Council of Santa Clara

Docent, Arts Center of St. Peter

Public Access:

Member, St. Peter Public Access Board

Volunteer (general):

includes

• Destination Imagination
• Treemendous Playground
• Meals on Wheels
• Habitat for Humanity
• IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program