Even though her children have been out of Kimball schools for years, Dorothy Kersten continues to serve on the school board. “Children and education are a passion in my life, and I enjoy being involved in education,” she said. Kersten is a fifth-grade teacher at Bendix Elementary School in Annandale. She has served on the Kimball School Board since the late 1980s. Kersten held the position of chair in the 1990s and was re-elected as chair this year. The chair of the board is responsible for conducting the meetings and making sure the rules of order are followed. Other than that, she is just a regular member of the board. “All of us realize that we’re just one member of a team,” Kersten said. “You’re one of six.” Over the years, Kersten has noticed that it’s important to have people of different backgrounds on the board. “It’s the dynamics of the group that make a difference,” she said. “We have a variety of ages and we each bring something different to the table.” Kersten brings the perspective of an educator and a mother. Background Kersten grew up in South Haven and went to Litchfield High School. Her mother was a teacher, and Kersten would sometimes help her mother in the classroom. “I saw how much joy she got out of teaching and saw it as a rewarding career,” Kersten said. Kersten went to college at St. Cloud State where she majored in elementary education with a minor in library science. Later, she went back for her masters in information media and took classes in gifted education. She started teaching in 1968 and spent much of her career as a librarian. She enjoys teaching fifth-graders now. “I really enjoy those 10- to 11-year-olds because they still think your cool,” she said. “I think teaching is one of the most engaging jobs I can ever imagine. Time flies; your world is that classroom.” Family When Kersten was still in high school her older brother was in the National Guard. One of his friends and another guy picked him up every-other weekend to go to National Guard training. The “other guy”, Douglas Kersten, became her husband in August 1968. Now, Douglas is a mail carrier in South Haven. They have two adult children: Deb and Dan. Deb is a financial analyst for United HealthCare and Dan is an army dentist serving a year in Europe. Back to the board Kersten’s background helps her to understand the issues that children face as well as the numerous acronyms that are used in education. These things change and that’s one reason why serving on the board continues to be interesting, she said. There are new learning issues and new mandates like the state’s “No Child Left Behind.” One issue that Kersten is concerned with right now is Early Childhood funding. “What parents do with their child before they ever arrive on the doorstep at school makes a big difference,” she said. One thing the school board must do that is difficult is negotiations. “You realize that you can’t please everyone all of the time,” she said. “And I’m a middle child so I want to please everyone.” Other challenges include limited resources with state funding cuts and declining enrollment. Being an educator and school board member is rewarding as well as challenging. “Seeing young adults who go through the Kimall schools become successful [is rewarding],” she said. She recently ran into a former student who had been in her first-grade class one of the first years she taught. The woman remembered doing things in her class, including some of the art projects. “I just can’t believe it,” Kersten said. “They’re so impressionable.” While seeing the results and reactions of former students and parents is rewarding, “It’s the students I have now that keep me going,” she said. Kersten is proud to be part of the team that made new school facilities a reality. After class When Kersten has time outside of education, she enjoys cooking, challenging word games or card games, and reading novels, biographies, books on Europe and books on education and child psychology. She and her husband recently started swimming and are enjoying their new hobby. Another thing they like is traveling. Kersten recently visited her son in Europe and has been to 10 European countries and 46 states. Switzerland and Austria are near the top of her list of favorites, but Canada tops them all. “The Banff area and Lake Louise are just beautiful,” she said. Traveling is one way she continues to educate herself, but she won’t stop educating others. “I can’t imagine retirement,” she said. “Kids are such a huge part of my life.”
