Governor Walz & Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Visit Hilltop & The Early Learning Center

Press release from the Inver Grove Heights Schools:

January 26, 2022

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited Hilltop Elementary School on January 25 to see the work happening in schools and roll out some budget recommendations for education and childcare. They were able to tour the school before holding a mini press conference in the gym.

As Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan walked the halls during their visit, they saw all of the posters that students made to welcome them. They also received a keepsake booklet that a first-grade class made for them after students learned about state government in preparation for the visit.

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan began their tour in an Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) class, speaking with parents of young children about their experiences. After that, Gov. Walz visited Mrs. Schroeder’s kindergarten class where they were learning about arctic animals. Gov. Walz put on his winter hat before reading, “In the Arctic,” about all of the different animals that live in cold climates. The governor howled along with students at the end of the book, mimicking the wolves they had just learned about.

Gov. Walz then met with some Hilltop staff members in the school’s Inspiration Center, where classes focus on building skills related to STEAMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and Media). Staff included School Social Worker Andrea Lichtsinn, Spartan Kids’ Care and Youth Enrichment Coordinator Erica Tollefson, Early Learning Coordinator Lora Lambert, Learning Partner Darcy Huspek, and Student and Family Success Coach Sarah Zaiser. Each staff member provided a description of their work for the governor and lieutenant governor. Staff also thanked Walz for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds that made it possible to bring on extra support for students after some of the most severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The visit culminated in a mini press conference in the Hilltop gym that featured announcements and information from Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Commissioner of Education Heather Mueller, and Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet Erin Bailey about the governor’s proposed budget items for education and childcare.

Thank you to Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan, Commissioner of Education Heather Mueller, and all of the other state administrators and staff who visited Hilltop. Thank you, also, to all of the ISD 199 staff members who made the visit possible and to all of the students that made our guests feel welcome.

This press release was produced by the Inver Grove Heights Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.