Governor Walz visited Intermediate School District 917’s Concord Education Center (CEC) on 2/7/22 to strengthen his understanding of the intricacies of serving students with diverse needs. During a 3-hour visit coordinated by Education Minnesota, the Governor heard a presentation from Principal Jamie Dalbesio and Dean Kate Hulse, ate lunch with students, visited three classrooms, and met individually and with small groups of licensed staff and paraprofessionals.
The excitement in the building was apparent to all as students welcomed Governor Walz into conversation, high-fives, a competitive game of Uno, and discussions of history. The Governor was thankful for the stories shared by the CEC community, as he grounds decisions in people’s real-world stories, not just spreadsheets of data. He had an emotional response to students telling him how much they missed being in school during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he shared with us that a number of students told him they want to be teachers when they grow up.
The Governor, a former teacher himself, needed no reminders of the importance of education, schools, or learning environments designed to meet the unique strengths and needs of diverse learners. Today’s visit did, however, provide him with real-world examples of the impacts of statewide policy and decision-making on students, staff, and families. It gave him a deeper understanding of the current reality of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. It deepened his knowledge of the hopes and needs of hard-working staff members, and it connected him with students who face and overcome obstacles every day due to the dedication of ISD 917 staff, administration, board, and member districts.
Immense gratitude to the Governor, his staff, Principal Jamie Dalbesio, Dean Kate Hulse, Education Minnesota, CEC staff, and CEC students for making this a day to remember!