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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz paid a special visit to the School of Education at St. Cloud State University on Monday to talk with future educators, meet with university leadership and faculty, and tour the building.
Walz, a former school teacher, was launching a weeklong education tour, which started at the Minnesota Rural Education Association Conference earlier on Monday in Brainerd. He talked with students at St. Cloud State about his background, and priorities for education, including funding, teacher retention, closing the achievement gap for minority students and increased mental health needs.
Not only was it an incredible opportunity for students to hear from and meet with the Governor, it was a chance for them to get notes from an educator with 20 years experience in public education.
“Live in the moment of the joy that’s in that classroom,” Walz told them. “And understand that for some of these kids, the best time of the day is when they’re in your classroom.”
Questions for Gov. Walz from the students ranged from the future of education in Minnesota and to more immediate issues facing Minnesota’s current college students.
The Governor was joined by Erin Bailey, executive director of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet, as well as St. Cloud State’s President Robbyn Wacker, Provost Dan Gregory and School of Education Dean Jennifer Mueller throughout the visit.
