Meet Peggy
I grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs of White Bear Lake and Mound. My younger brother and I were raised by an incredible dad who owned a small business and a loving mom who began as a stay-at-home parent, then worked as a bank teller and later sold homes for a local realtor. As our family grew, we were also blessed with bonus stepparents and stepsiblings. After graduating from Mound-Westonka High School in 1976, I went on to earn my elementary education and early childhood degrees from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, followed by a year of graduate-level study at St. Cloud State University, where I ultimately received my master’s degree in special education.
I moved to Albert Lea in 1981 for my first teaching job and have lived in this beautiful rural community ever since. Working with children, parents, and teachers was a true joy for me. I spent 33 wonderful years as an elementary school teacher. During that time working with mostly first graders, I became a teacher-leader for both reading curriculum and technology. It was an honor to be voted Albert Lea 2011 Teacher of the Year, as well as Minnesota Teacher of the Year state finalist in 2012.
Article Credit: Albert Lea Tribune
Church and family have been an integral part of my life, as are my close circle of friends. I count the over 750 students that I have taught throughout my 33 years as a teacher as my “kids” and have stayed connected with many of them. I also have special pets – a 120-pound Shiloh Shepherd named Hawken and my loveable Ragdoll cats. I spent a lot of my younger adult life mentoring teenagers through Youth for Christ and worked with Ojibway youth for many summers at a remote First Nation community in Ontario, Canada. It remains a joy to have gained some longtime Ojibwe friends through those experiences.
I am active in my local church, a history and photography buff, and am a member of the Wells Rifle and Pistol Association. I greatly enjoy getting out to communities to join in local events. In 2015, I retired from teaching when I was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Currently serving my sixth term in the Minnesota House, I have been Assistant Minority Leader, Vice Chair of the Education Finance Committee, Education Policy Minority Lead, and am the current Co-Chair of the Education Policy Committee.
Enter Politics – Really?
I remember sitting up in my climbing tree as a grade school child and telling myself I’d never be a teacher. I didn’t like school. Well, I ended up being an elementary school teacher for 33 years and I loved it. As a young adult, I can remember saying I would never get involved in politics. I hate the name calling, the game playing, and the “spin”. Now I’ve been a state representative for six terms. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all this: never say never!
A knock on my door in May 2013 changed the trajectory of my life. A neighbor from down the street came by to ask me if I’d ever considered running for office. My first thought was, “Are you crazy?” But I told him I’d think about it and pray about it over the summer. My first thought was, “No way!” I was happy as a teacher and I loved it. By autumn, however, I knew I needed to do this. I wanted to do it for my over 750 “kids” (my former first grade students) and for your children and grandchildren. I want each one of them to have the same freedoms and opportunities that I have been blessed to have.
So, here I am now as a six-term state representative. I learned to work with and get along with many different types of people during my teaching career and to treat respectfully those with whom I disagree. Those same skills have been well used in the legislature. I am a listener more than a talker, and I want to hear all sides of an issue before making any judgements or decisions.
When I meet with people, we may not always end up agreeing on everything, but it’s important to me that they walk away knowing that I am always willing to listen, I will treat them respectfully, and that I care – because I do care!
I still hate “politics,” because so much is about name calling and game playing, but I love what I’m doing – and that’s serving people. People should always come before politics!
