cwaltz@underwood.k12.mn.us
How long have you lived in Underwood?
My family and I live on German Lake just outside Underwood and we love it. We moved to Underwood about three years ago. We did live north of Fergus Falls prior to that. We moved to the area about 7 years ago.
What is your profession?
I work for Otter Tail Power Company. I manage our Sales and Implementation team. Arguably one thing I love most about my job is managing an excellent team of professional energy experts.
Why are you passionate about education?
Education can transform people. It transformed me. Who I am. How hard I work. And how much this world needs us to persist in our passions. When I think about my educational journey. I initially got a 16 on the ACT. I did not have the high school grades to even get into college. Frankly, I didn't even believe I was smart enough to go to college. But when I found my passion I was able to get into community college. I got the grades and coursework necessary to get into a four-year school. I maintained a 3.2 GPA in undergrad, both at community college and four-year, and a 3.6 GPA in grad school. Also, I was able to be very active outside of the classroom in other school activities. Education 100% changed my life for the better and it has the ability to do that for anyone.
One of your favorite memories with students as a school board member:
I just started as a school board member. However, I can recall many memories with teachers and school leadership. One in particular was with my fifth grade teacher. He was my teacher for the last hour of the day in fifth grade. I would typically stay after class where he would help me with reading. We discovered I liked reading science articles. He would 1) consistently take the time and stay late to help me build my reading skills and 2) always find the best science articles of the week that were so interesting. I will never forget his impact.
