Mounds View Schools Education Foundation

Executive Committee

Board of Trustees
Graeme Allen
Graeme has been a Trustee since 2009.

Josh Collins
Josh Collins lives in New Brighton with his wife and three children, who attend Bel Air Elementary School. Josh works for the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority and is responsible for communications, marketing and social media. He also manages the public art program for the Union Depot restoration project. In 2011, Josh returned to Minnesota after five years in Portland, Ore., where he worked for the regional public transit agency. Prior to that, Josh directed public affairs for the Minneapolis Public Schools and coordinated communications during the design, construction and start-up of the Hiawatha Line. Josh has a bachelor's degree in psychology fromMacalester College and a master's degree in strategic communications from the University of Oregon.

Connie Foote
Connie Foote, former President of the Board of Trustees, has been a district resident since 1992. Her daughter is a graduate of Mounds View High School and her son is currently a senior there. She holds an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and is a Licensed Psychologist. Connie is a former member of the Donor Advisory Council at the Saint Paul Foundation. She has been a trustee since 2006.

Karen Kozen-Lien
Karen Kozen-Lien holds an Ed.D degree in Organizational Learning and Development from the University of St. Thomas. Karen founded GraceVine Center which exists to assist educators and leaders with workplace issues.  Co-creating wise education workplaces, enriching the education experience for all involved.  Karen's professional experience includes serving as a Special Education Coordinator, Principal intern, Special Education Teacher, Elementary Teacher and Primary Care Counselor. Karen has been an ISD #621 resident for 44 years, graduating from Mounds View High School (1981) and has served in various volunteer capacities including two years as PTA co-president for Island Lake Elementary and two years as chair for the district elementary PTA President's Council. Karen is currently the Vice President of the Foundation.

Mandy Little
Mandy is a licensed (LACD) alcohol/drug counselor and has worked in the district for 30 years as the Chemical Dependency Resource before becoming a 9th Grade Advisor and a Dean. In 2008 Mandy became the Safe Schools Healthy Student Grant Coordinator for the district.

Jim Ostlund
Jim Ostlund is Senior Vice President of Park Midway Bank and has been a trustee 2009. He currently serves as Treasurer. Jim lives in the Mounds View School District and has served on several non-profit boards.

Lee Porath
Lee Porath started teaching in the Mounds View School District in 1967 and retired 41 years later in 2008. Most of those years were spent teaching in grades 4, 5, and 6. Lee taught high performance math to grades 3, 4, and 5 during the last ten years. Lee was also a driver education teacher for many years and taught almost a thousand students to drive. During his tenure with the school district, Lee served on many different school district and community wide committees and served as a founding member on the first 621 Foundation Board of Directors.

Brian Strub
Brian Strub joined the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation in 2008 and currently serves as President. He earned his master's degree in political science from American University in Washington, DC and his bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN where he majored in political science and minored in mass communications. Brian works for the Minnesota State Arts Board. He and his family live in New Brighton. They are parents of a student at Bel Air Elementary School.

Ruben Vazquez
Ruben Vazquez joined the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation in 2012 as a Board Trustee.  He earned his master's degree in Public Administration from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, a Certificate in Global Arbitration Law and Practice from Hamline Law School and Queen Mary's University (London, England) and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN.  Ruben works for the City of St. Paul in the Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity.  He is currently co-President of Bel Air Elementary School PTA where his son will be entering second grade next fall.  He and his family live in New Brighton.

Colleen Wambach
Colleen Wambach was a special education teacher and administrator for the Mounds View Public Schools for 34 years. She retired from her role as Irondale High School Principal on June 30, 2009. Colleen is currently working part-time as a principal mentor and educational consultant, allowing her to maintain strong ties to this educational community.

Dan Westerman
Dan Westerman is a trial attorney in private practice and has a B.A. from St. John's University in Government and Economics. Dan and his family moved to the district in 2006, and he has two children attending Mounds View Schools. Dan currently serves on the Environmental Quality Committee for the City of Shoreview and has served on the boards of other non-profit organizations.

Staff

Mindy Handberg
Executive Director, Mounds View Schools Education Foundation
Mindy.handberg@moundsviewschools.org
651-621-7477
Mindy has more than 20 years of experience working the areas of community relations and public affairs. She has expertise in building strong partnerships and relationships between corporate and nonprofit organizations. Mindy and her husband live in Shoreview and have three children attending the Mounds View Schools.

Eric Tell
Database Coordinator, Mounds View Schools Education Foundation
eric.tell@moundsviewschools.org
651-621-7495
Eric is a Irondale graduate (Sunnyside & Highview as well).  He owns and operates a small business distributing music for local bands and musicians out of a building he owns in New Brighton. 

Dan Hoverman
Superintendent, Mounds View Public Schools
Dan Hoverman's career with the Mounds View School District spans 32 years of management experience at all school levels, including positions as school psychologist, special education director, executive director of curriculum and deputy superintendent. Dan Hoverman holds an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and a Special Degree in Education Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Bob Helgeson
Bob Helgeson is a Language Arts teacher in ISD 196 at Apple Valley High School. He has taught at Apple Valley High School for 23 years. His teaching experience includes Hastings High School, Marist Sisters' College-Woolwich, Sydney, NSW Australia, and the University of Iowa. Bob received his undergraduate degree from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. Bob is committed to forging a close and meaningful link between the Mounds View Schools Education Foundation and the School District, one through which the Foundation is best able to apply its resources strategically in concert with District efforts to serve the needs of all learners.