Haven't voted yet?
There's still time. With early voting curently in progress and election day arriving Tuesday, Nov. 4, the race to watch this year in South Washington County school board, with nine candidates competing for four seats.
Registered as school board candidates for ISD 833 this November are Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg, Chad Borseth, Travis Dahle, Bryn Forstner, Louise Hinz, Juan Huerta, Lori Pechhia Michalski, Katie Schwartz, and Sharon Van Leer.
Hinz, Schwartz, and Van Leer are incumbents, with one other incumbent (Eric Tessmer) not filing for re-election.
The Journal reached out via email for more on what each candidate has to offer. These are their respective backgrounds and responses, arranged in alphabetical order. First up in this our school board candidate review is Elizabeth Bockman Eckberg.

A 43-year-old mother and eight year resident of South Washington County School District, Bockman Eckberg is director of curriculum at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where she helps bring the most effective educational practices to life with medical school faculty, staff, and students. Prior to her curretn job, Bockman Eckberg taught middle and high school sciences for 14 years, including helping to launch and teach the Project Lead the Way biomedical science electives at East Ridge High School.
“I’ve lived in the SoWashCo district for more than eight years and have a creative and curious fourth grader,” she says. “We moved into the community because we were excited for our son to attend these excellent school communities. We’ve navigated and learned a lot about services for students with special needs since he started.”

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
Achievement Gap: The academic achievement gap in South Washington County demands our focus and persistence. My goal is to continue the long-term work of reducing the academic and opportunity gap for at-risk and students of color. This also includes reducing / eliminating bullying and racial discrimination issues. We can even look to our students to partner with us and set amazing examples: ERHS Students Work to Close the Gap.
Teacher Retention: High quality teachers and teacher retention improve student outcomes and help close achievement gaps. We want to retain these talented professionals for our students. As a board member, I will strongly advocate for organized labor and positive labor relations with district unionized staff. I am committed to ensuring fair wages and working conditions. I will embrace a strong partnership, constructive negotiations, and mutually beneficial solutions. We must continue to value the individuals committed to supporting and educating our students.
Diverse Hiring Practices: The district must invest in diverse hiring practices. It is critical that students see themselves reflected in and can connect with their teachers and school staff. I would advocate for unconscious bias training in hiring committees, diverse hiring committees, community partnerships, objective screening practices, and tracking metrics to ensure the district is meeting goals.
Fiscal Accountability: I will focus on sustainable, transparent, and innovative uses of public dollars on behalf of our students.

Why are you running for school board?
I’m an experienced public school teacher and educational leader devoted to all students’ success and ensuring access to the resources they need to thrive. I care deeply about the students in this community and their access to high quality public education.
I’m dedicated to consensus building, community engagement, and an evidence-based approach. I’m familiar with tough decision making and champion stakeholder engagement. With your support, I will work to ensure our schools are places of belonging and innovation for all.
Teachers are the heart of our schools, and we must trust their expertise to develop high-quality curriculum that inspires our students. At the same time, a strong district requires financial transparency and a commitment to using every dollar wisely to benefit all students. By investing in the teachers, mental health support staff, and other staff in our schools, we invest in the students of this district and their future.

Next up in the ISD 833 school board candidate review is Chad Borseth.

A 50-year-old district resident, Borseth resides with his wife and two children, who attend Nuevas Fronteras. Currently a Special Education Teacher at St. Paul Central High School, Borseth will complete a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in K–12 Leadership in Spring/Summer of 2026.
“I previously taught at East Ridge High School for five years and have also coached athletics and advised several student clubs,” he says. Borseth shared more on what what he deems to be important for issues and why he is running.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
School Safety: No family should worry whether their child will return home safely from school. In 2023, our community approved funding for security upgrades, but safety must remain a top priority. I will work to strengthen partnerships with local law enforcement and ensure staff are fully trained to respond to emergencies. My classroom experience has shown me the value of strong relationships with SROs and security staff.
Chronic Absenteeism: Recent data shows that one in four District 833 students were chronically absent (missing more than 10% of school), with some significant disparities across schools. Attendance is the foundation of academic success and equity. I will champion policies and partnerships to reduce absenteeism and ensure all students are present, engaged, and supported.
Election Alignment: Our school board elections should be held on-cycle, during even-year general elections. This reform would increase voter turnout, reduce costs, and limit the outsized influence of special interest groups. Ninety percent of Minnesota districts have already made this change, and I believe SoWashCo should follow. Recently, the Wayzata School Board approved this change and estimates they’ll save about $100,000 per election. In our last school board election special-interest groups spent over $60,000 to support their endorsed candidates. This spending dramatically shapes the composition of local school board. Moving to on-cycle elections would curb special interest influence and return it to our voters to help ensure our school board is truly non partisan.

Why are you running for school board?
I am running because I care deeply about the best interests of our children. My wife and I are grateful that our kids are thriving in SoWashCo schools, and I want every family to feel the same way. If elected, I would be the only active classroom teacher on the board. Everyday experiences with students, conversations with parents, and collaborations with colleagues matter—and our district deserves leadership shaped by those realities.

Anything else?
I strongly support school choice for students and families. South Washington County has excellent public schools, and my priority will always be strengthening them. At the same time, our community also has high-performing charter and private options, including two local charters ranked among Minnesota’s top five schools by U.S. News & World Report. If elected, I will work to build stronger relationships across all educational options, fostering collaboration rather than division, and leveraging the unique talents and innovations of these schools to make our district schools even stronger.
As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I want to bring this spirit of collaboration to our school board and our community—so we can go farther, together. Please visit iLikeChad.com to learn more about my vision for our schools.

Next up for ISD 833 school board candidates is Travis Dahle.

A 44-year-old certified public accountant, Dahle currently works as a Tax Accountant for the State of Minnesota’s Department of Management and Budget.
“My professional career has centered on financial accountability, compliance, and ensuring that taxpayer resources are used responsibly, he says. “I bring extensive experience in public service, with a focus on fiscal responsibility, transparency, and careful stewardship of funds."
Dahle shared more in his Journal questionnaire.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
One of the biggest challenges facing our schools is ensuring that resources are used wisely to support both academic achievement and student well-being. Our district must balance strong academic standards with fiscal responsibility, making sure classrooms are properly supported without overburdening taxpayers. Supporting teachers and staff so they have the tools and respect they need is also critical. I would address these priorities by applying my financial expertise to ensure the district’s budget is transparent, balanced, and aligned with educational goals, while keeping parents and the community actively involved in the process.

Why are you running for school board?
I am running for school board because I believe in giving back to the community and ensuring our children receive a strong, well-rounded education. I value the role schools play in building not only academic knowledge but also character, citizenship, and responsibility. I want to help guide the district in a way that preserves what has worked well while being thoughtful about improvements. My goal is to be a careful steward of district resources and to represent the interests of families, students, and taxpayers.

Anything else you’d like to add?
I am committed to respectful collaboration, open communication, and thoughtful leadership. Our schools thrive when board members listen carefully, consider different perspectives, and make decisions with the best interests of students in mind. I would be honored to serve the community in this role and to help ensure our district remains strong for both current and future generations.

Following Dahle in our review is school board candidate Bryn Forstner.

A 35-year-old Marine Corps veteran serving from 2009-2013, Forstner gave a brief background summary.
“Volunteer Coach within CG Baseball," he said. “Current occupation - Construction foreman within the Local 563 Laborers Union."
Forstner shared more on what he thinks is important for the district.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
I believe we need to empower our teachers and limit classroom disruptions. This will help create a more advantageous educational environment for our students.
We need to nail down a contract for our teachers, something that’s fair, but within the budget of the district.
We also need to eliminate political biases within our schools. Students these days have enough on their plates, and adding societal pressures (IE adult situations inappropriate for minors/grooming) don’t do anything but cause a mental strain on all our children, when their focus should be on education, friends, extracurricular activities, etc.

Why are you running for school board?
I believe I am a voice for all people in our community. I’m not afraid to tip toe around the hard topics, I live by the principle of accountability for actions, and with that comes actual results. A real change that we can create for our kids, and the betterment of our community.

Next for school board candidates is Louise Hinz, an incumbent school board member.

Appointed earlier this year to fill Pat Driscoll’s seat and involved herself in the SoWashCo community for more than 40 years, Hinz is married to a Park High School graduate, raising two children who attended local schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. Hinz started her second career in 1995 and for 22 years was part of our district’s outstanding teaching staff.
“I retired from teaching at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, and planned to become a regular volunteer for organizations I admire, she says. “I thought I might be swinging a hammer for Habitat for Humanity, but soon realized I missed teaching and that my skills and passion lie in education. So, I continued my teaching career as a substitute in our district, accepted a part-time instructor position with the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, and served one full term on the school board."
"I have both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in education, along with a middle school mathematics certification.”
Hinz shares more on her candidacy below.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
The mission of South Washington County Schools is to educate students for success. Ensuring our students are prepared to thrive in their chosen environment at the end of their time with us is critical. This means we must address the achievement gap. Educational research identifies the importance of meeting our students’ physical, social and emotional safety before learning can take place. I appreciate the priority SoWashCo has placed on these safety and relationship needs. I also know it is necessary to move beyond these basic needs. We need to do things differently. As a retired SoWashCo teacher, I am proud of the training that has been offered in evidence-based instructional practices. The next step is to deeply understand these practices and embed them in instruction.
Our district teachers are masterful and committed to excellence, and their plates are full. We need to protect their planning and collaboration time, and we need the support of every employee to accomplish this.

Why Loiuse Hinz for school board?
As a teacher, I was an advocate for students, a voice for parents and a partner with teachers and staff. I am running for school board so I can continue to be an advocate for students, a voice for parents and a partner with teachers, staff, and the community

Anything else?
Because I have held the job of parent, educator, taxpayer, community member and school board director, I understand they have different roles. As a parent, my job was to advocate for my child. As a teacher, my job was to advocate for my students. As a school board director, my job is to advocate for every student, every teacher, every staff member, every taxpayer and every community member in our district. I have the experience and ability to think about and evaluate educational issues from multiple points of view.

Next in the school board candidate review is Juan Huerta.

Happily married to his wife of over 22 years and with six children who attended SoWashCo Schools, Huerta is a Corporate Security Supervisor and Fire Chief for my onsite Fire Brigade.
“I grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota Frogtown area and attended schools in Saint Paul, finishing my last two years of High School in Circle Pines, Minnesota,” he says. “After joining the Marines, I completed my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice then joined the City of Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department. Upon returning to Minnesota, a local Fortune 500 company hired me. I have lived in Cottage Grove, Minnesota for the last 18 years.”
With online campaign presence at https://juanhuertaforsowashco.org, Huerta shared more on what he thinks are some important issues below.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how you would you work to address them?
Some important issues facing schools right now are the low academic scores across the board in South Washington County. Currently only 53% of 3rd graders are proficient in Math, reading, writing, science, and history. Our students need to have classes focused more on these subjects and teachers need parents' support in school and at home with homework to help them improve on these subjects. Adding home economics as a required class all throughout high high school will help in teaching our children real practical skills needed to succeed in life. Economics will help in teaching about personal finances, budgeting things that are used in real life.

Why Juan Huerta for School Board?
We need to do better for our children.
I am committed to supporting our children in academics and their well-being and will collaborate with schools, in supporting our teachers and local law enforcement with school resource officers for all our children’s safety.
I am a commonsense person, with honor, integrity, ethical, morals values, and if elected as your school board member, I am determined and committed to helping our children get the most value out of their education that will help them be more successful as they move forward with their lives.
I will continue to push for a better future even when others have quit.

Anything else?
As a former police officer and U.S. Marine I will ensure the policies that are brought up in the school board meeting will be for the best interest of our children and take the politics out of school.

Also in the candidates for school board meanwhile is Lori Pecchia Michalski, a 72-year-old with background as a registered nurse and mental health.

Pecchia Michalski shared her questionnaire responses in paragraph format.
“My name is Lori Pecchia Michalski and running for School Board of District 833 South Washington County Schools," she said. “I am 72 years young and worked as a Registered Nurse for 45 years in Mental Health. I have a Degree in Psychology, with Criminal Justice Emphasis. I volunteer at the St. Croix County jail doing Bible studies with women. I enjoy living in Woodbury for the past 37 years, and my children attended Royal Oaks School. I had the opportunity to facilitate Jr Great Books Class, along with volunteering in the classroom. My children are now adults with their own families, and pursuing their careers, with a good work ethic. Someone asked me to run for the school board and I accepted this challenge. For the past several years I was alarmed by what was going on in the public schools, and was looking for a way to be involved with seeing changes for the next generation of children. To begin with, the importance of addressing basic core education and proficiency in reading and critical thinking, mathematics and science, which is declining in our district. My vision is to encourage parents to be more involved with their child’s education and see more transparency of the curriculum being taught. I want to empower parents to challenge some of the subjects and policies that are a deterrent to a child’s learning, and ask them to express concerns at the school board meetings. Another issue is the policy allowing boys in girls sports and locker rooms that can be challenged by parents. Also to have a disciplinary action plan to allow a teacher to teach without distractions. These issues will be addressed at the school board level, but I need your Vote November 4! My running mates also share like minded concerns, so please consider Bryn Forstner and Juan Huerta for the open school board seats. Thank you, and to see changes in our district, it will take a collaboration of parents and teachers working together with District 833 School Board.”

The next candidate to cover for school board is Katie Schwartz.

Currently an incumbent school board member with South Washington County Schools, Schwartz shared more on her candidacy and background.
“As a lifelong resident of the SoWashCo community, I have been proud to serve on the school board since 2014,” Schwartz shares on her campaign website at katiefor833.com. “My deep roots in this district and decade of board experience have given me valuable insight into the needs of our students, families, and educators. I am running for re-election to continue working for the success of SoWashCo schools.”
Schwartz shared more in a Journal questionnaire.

What are some important issues facing the school district and how would you work to address them?
If elected, my top priorities will be school safety, equity, and responsible budget management. Ensuring our students and staff feel safe and have a sense of belonging creates the foundation for learning. Promoting equity means every child receives the support they need to succeed. Finally, I'll work to provide fair compensation for our dedicated staff while being mindful of taxpayers and navigating uncertain funding levels to maintain fiscal responsibility.

Why Katie for school board?
My 12 years of dedicated board service have given me deep institutional knowledge and proven leadership experience. Throughout my tenure, I've consistently championed both students and teachers, understanding that their success is interconnected and essential to our district's excellence. My track record includes successfully balancing budgets during challenging economic times while maintaining educational quality and programs. I'm committed to evidence-based education practices grounded in research and data, ensuring decisions lead to measurable student outcomes. This combination of experience, fiscal responsibility, and dedication to sound educational practices makes me qualified to continue serving effectively.

Closing out our candidate review for South Washington County School Board is Sharon Van Leer.

Currently Director for Culture and Inclusion at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Van Leer is a native Minnesotan who grew up in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul before moving to White Bear Lake due to gentrification. Now a South Washington County resident ands incumbent board member, Van Leer holds a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University in Business Administration and a master’s degree from Bethel University in Public Administration.
With online campaign information at https://vanleerforschools.com, Van Leer shared more on her candidacy with the Journal.

“I value my life and work choices, and serving on the board has allowed me to advocate for children. As a parent, grandparent, great grandparent, and foster parent, I know the importance of being responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community, empowering and encouraging open and meaningful dialog. We must join together in this endeavor if we are to be successful.
The academic decline in our standardized test scores:
• Support academic excellence – that is student-centered so that every child has access to opportunities that prepares them for a successful future in a global society
Building our Financial Stability:
• Maintain our strong financial standing – work to ensure that our tax dollars benefit the education of all children, and that we make sound, ethical and fiscal decisions.
Safety Issues:
• Implement Policies and Procedures that provides a safe environment – make our schools safe for children and staff, that our children are safe inside and outside schools, and to make certain they learn their responsibility for civility and safety.
Why am I Running:
I am running because I know I will bring a diverse perspective to the board. As I have previously stated, as a parent, grandparent, great grandparent, aunt, and foster parent, I have experience dealing with the school system and I have gained insight into strategies and methods that helped to develop a positive working relationship with the district.”

Now ongoing, early voting in the fall election runs through Nov. 3. Locations for early voting in Washington County include the Cottage Grove Service Center at 13000 Ravine Parkway in Cottage Grove, Central Service and License Center at 1261 Woodlane Drive in Woodbury, and Washington County Government Center at 14969 62nd Street North in Stillwater.
Early voting hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Election Day this year is Tuesday, Nov. 4, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can find their voting precinct by entering their address on the Minnesota Secretary of State website at https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov. ID and proof of residence are needed for those seeking to register at the polls.
Those who have successfully registered at least 21 days before Election Day and have not moved or changed names since then do not need to bring identification, per the Secretary of State website.