Nine candidates are running for four open seats on the South Washington County school board in the Nov. 4 election.
The four seats up for election are currently held by members Louise Hinz, Kathleen (Katie) Schwartz, Eric Tessmer and Sharon H. Van Leer. Hinz, Schwartz and Van Leer are running for reelection. They are being challenged by Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg, Travis Dahle, Bryn Forstner, Juan Huerta, Chad Borseth and Lori Pecchia Michalski.
The top four candidates elected will serve terms that begin in January and expire at the end of December 2029.
The South Washington County school district covers all or parts of Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, Woodbury, Afton, Denmark and Grey Cloud Island Townships.
Also in Washington County, two cities will hold municipal elections in November: Mahtomedi and St. Paul Park. Most other cities hold elections in even years.
In Mahtomedi, Lilly Melander and Luke Schlegel, both incumbents, are running for reelection. Neither is facing a challenger.
St. Paul Park City Council members Jeff Haggerty and Jeff Swenson are also running for reelection. Both are uncontested.
There are many ways to vote in the Nov. 4 general election: voting early by mail, voting early in person, or voting in person on Election Day.
Information on registering to vote and voters’ rights can be found at WashingtonCountyMN.gov/Elections.
Here are the candidates running for South Washington County school board, ISD 833:
Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg
Bockman Eckberg, 43, spent close to 14 years teaching in public school, 11 of which were at South Washington County Schools, where she helped launch Project Lead the Way, a biomedical science elective at East Ridge High School.
“As a former classroom teacher, I believe public schools should help students feel they not only belong but should help students love to be at school exploring relationships with caring adults and their peers, learning about the world,” she said.
Bockman lives in Woodbury with her husband, 10-year-old son and cat. She is a director of curriculum for the University of Minnesota Medical School and a member of the local Moms Demand Action chapter and SoWashCo Special Education Advisory Committee.
“We moved into the community because we were excited for our son to experience his education in these excellent school communities,” she said. “Since my son started school, we’ve navigated and learned a lot about services for students with special needs.”
If elected, Bockman said she would focus on reducing academic achievement gaps for at-risk students and students of color, work to improve teacher retention by strongly advocating for fair wages and working conditions, encourage investing in diverse hiring practices and focus on sustainable, transparent and innovative uses of public dollars on behalf of students.
“I am committed to doing the work: listening to students, district administration, teachers and the community,” she said. “I attend board meetings in person. I have met with the district superintendent to learn more about district administrative priorities. I’ve met with the teacher union leadership to learn more about their priorities. I look forward to serving our district’s students and upholding all the responsibilities of the role in service to our community.”
Chad Borseth
Borseth, of Woodbury, is in his eighth year of teaching at St. Paul Central High School. He and his wife chose to live in the South Washington County district 10 years ago in part due to the excellent public, charter and private school options for their children. This is Borseth’s second time running for a school board position.
“I’m committed to being a true nonpartisan, independent candidate free from special interest endorsements,” Borseth said. “My goal is simple: to keep the focus on students, bring a classroom perspective to the board, and represent families directly without outside partisan political influence.”
“My work at Central has been deeply rewarding, sharpening my ability to develop practical strategies that address systemic barriers to achievement, strengthen family engagement, and ensure equitable opportunities for every learner. I am ready to bring these experiences and insights to the South Washington County School Board.”
Borseth said he is actively involved in several school and community activities, has coached multiple youth sports programs and advised student council and prom committees. He is a former member of United Teachers of South Washington County and a current member of the St. Paul Federation of Educators. In the last two years, he’s served as a union delegate to the state Representative Convention, he said.
“If elected, I would be the only active classroom teacher on our school board. This is important because everyday classroom experiences with students matter, everyday conversations with parents matter, and everyday collaborations with teachers matter. Our district deserves leadership shaped by the everyday realities of students, families and teachers,” he said.
Some of Borseth’s priorities if elected will include ensuring school security and safety, addressing chronic absenteeism and ending off-cycle, odd-year school board elections.
Travis Dahle
Dahle, 44, lives in Woodbury with his family. This is his first time running for a school board position. Dahle is a certified public accountant for the state of Minnesota in the Department of Management and Budget. He serves as the treasurer for the Red Rock Elementary parent-teacher organization and is a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury.
“I bring a professional background in finance and accountability, which I believe will help strengthen fiscal decision-making and promote transparency,” he said. “I also value collaboration and believe in working constructively with parents, educators and community members to ensure our schools remain strong and welcoming.”
If elected, Dahle said his main priority is to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while supporting the district’s mission of providing high-quality education for all students.
“I am running because I believe our community benefits when everyday parents and professionals step forward to serve,” he said. “I want to contribute my skills and experience to help our schools thrive and to support both students and staff in achieving success.”
Bryn Forstner
Forstner, 36, is a Marine Corps veteran, serving from 2009 to 2013. He is currently employed by a Twin Cities-based specialty construction contractor. This is his first time running for a school board position.
Forstner lives in Cottage Grove with his wife, Stephanie, two daughters and youngest son, who each attend schools in the South Washington County district.
“Myself, as well as my wife, both are volunteer coaches within Cottage Grove’s baseball and soccer associations. We feel it’s extremely important to give back to our community as well as partake in our children’s activities,” Forstner said. “I feel running for school board is an extension of that giving-back mentality.”
If elected, Forstner said one of his priorities would be to remove political bias from the classroom.
“I do believe today’s kids are being pushed a narrative that is not conducive, and distracting to educational development,” Forstner said. “More so, I believe some of these agendas are not rooted in traditional family and core values. I am not one to judge anyone’s gender or sexual identity, and those individuals are free to do as they wish publicly, but I do firmly believe that those topics need to stay out of the classroom, especially when it comes to minors.”
Louise Hinz
Hinz, 68, of Woodbury, has spent 22 years as an educator in the South Washington County school district, according to her campaign website, and has 30 years of experience as a professional educator. She is currently a math instructor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is running for reelection.
“I have held the job of parent, educator, taxpayer, community member and school board director. I understand their different roles,” Hinz stated in a Pioneer Press candidate survey. “As a parent, my job was to advocate for my child. As a teacher, my job was to advocate for my students. As a school board director, my job is to advocate for every student, every teacher, every staff member, every taxpayer and every community member in our district.”
If elected, Hinz’s top priorities will include creating a high-quality educational experience for all students, as well as advocating for student safety, according to the survey.
Juan Huerta
Huerta, of Cottage Grove, is a former Leavenworth, Kan., police officer. This is Huerta’s first time running for a school board position.
Huerta is “happily married” to his wife of over 22 years, and together they have “six wonderful children,” five daughters and one son, who each attend school in the district. If elected, Huerta said his main priority would be to raise the academic curriculum: reading, writing, math, science and critical thinking. He said he will also prioritize empowering parents, advocating for school safety and holding the district financially accountable.
“I am doing this for the children, so that they can be better prepared and ready for the real world,” he said.
Lori Pecchia Michalski
Pecchia Michalski, of Woodbury, did not respond to an interview request. She is a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital of 45 years, and is active in jail ministry through a community outreach organization, according to her campaign website.
“Education has always been my passion. When my children attended Royal Oaks School, I volunteered often — from classroom assistance to leading Junior Great Books discussions,” she stated on the campaign site. “Today, I’m committed to ensuring every child in District 833 receives an exceptional K-12 education that prepares them for success.”
If elected, she will prioritize increasing transparency and parental rights, strengthening teacher-parent relationships, restoring a focus on core education subjects such as math, science, literature, history and art, as well as ensuring safe and fair policies for all, as stated on her website.
Katie Schwartz
Schwartz, 47, of St. Paul Park, was born and raised in South Washington County. She has served as a South Washington County school board member for 12 years and is running for reelection.
“My 12 years of dedicated board service have given me deep institutional knowledge and proven leadership experience,” she said. “Throughout my tenure, I’ve consistently championed both students and teachers, understanding that their success is interconnected and essential to our district’s excellence.”
Schwartz is a team leader at insurance company the Hartford and has worked with the organization for seven years. She said she is an active member in her community, coaches kids’ sports and serves on various community and school board committees.
“My track record includes successfully balancing budgets during challenging economic times while maintaining educational quality and programs,” she said. “I’m committed to evidence-based education practices grounded in research and data, ensuring decisions lead to measurable student outcomes. This combination of experience, fiscal responsibility and dedication to sound educational practices makes me qualified to continue serving effectively.”
Sharon H. Van Leer
Van Leer, of Woodbury, is the director of culture and inclusion at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and is running for reelection in her fourth term as a school board member.
“My journey began in St. Paul’s Rondo Community, an experience that shaped my perspective and commitment to equity,” she said. “Twelve years ago, I ran for school board because of the lack of diversity on the board, and I wanted to represent those who felt unheard and marginalized.”
Van Leer is a founding member of the Law School Diversity Professionals Board, an advisory board member for the Woodbury YMCA Racial Justice Committee, a board representative for the South Washington CARES Board, a board representative for the Achievement and Integration Committee, a community representative for the Tenth Judicial Selection Committee and a board member for the Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility.
“I am running for reelection because I believe, I trust and I support our public school system. My campaign is not driven by a political agenda; it is rooted in my experience as a professional and an advocate for children,” she said. “I support unique, dynamic academic programs that are student-centered, so that every child has access to resources, preparing them for a successful future in a global society. Let’s ensure our educational system remains a positive force in our community’s future.”
If reelected, Van Leer said she will prioritize strengthening the district’s financial standing, advocate for an increased focus on mental health and wellness and for programs that foster more than just academic achievement, but “provide resources that generate awareness between health, education and social services.”
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