School Board Members

Great Expectations School is a membership organization, meaning that parents, teachers, and staff elect the board. The school board must include teachers and may also include parents and community members.

Meet the Board

President                         

Jon Hedstrom :: Community Member

Jon's involvement with GES began as a student mentor for our Science Fair.  He was elected to our board as a Grand Marais Community member and serves on the Technology Committee.

Vice President

Kathryn Nelson-Pedersen :: Educator

Kathryn has served on the board of directors at GES for the past seven years, taking breaks according to term length rotations.  She has served as the Vice-chair for the past three years. She is inspired by, and continues to be excited about, the charter school movement and the positive impact that it has had on education in our community and our state.  Kathryn feels privileged to be able to continue to co-create this unique and effective school community through working hard to fulfill its mission as an educator and board member.

Treasurer

Sara Hingos :: Parent

Sara has lived in Grand Marais for 7 years.  Currently she has two children attending GES, a Bear Cub and a Fawn.  In addition to being a mom she also owns and manages a local business with her husband. 

Secretary

Suzy Schweig :: Educator

Suzy moved to Grand Marais from St. Louis, MO 8 years ago, and quickly became one of the founding members of GES.  She is the secretary for the board  which means she keeps the records for the board.  Suzy teaches 4th/5th grades at GES, and this is her 21st year of teaching.

Member At Large

Anna Deschampe :: Community

Anna is new to the Great Expectations School Board, but has been involved with charter schools since 2004 as a staff member in Minneapolis, MN and board member in Grand Portage, MN. Anna is currently the Director of Education for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Member At Large

Melanie Steele :: Parent

Melanie's daughter is in the Bear Cub classroom at GES.  Melanie serves on the fundraising committee and the ad hoc environmental committee.

Member At Large

Sue Butter :: Educator

Licensed in pre-K through 6th grade, Sue comes to GES with a broad range of teaching experience, including 10 years of home-schooling her three children, 5 years of providing community day care services, and her most recent positions at the Early Childhood Family Education program for birth to five year olds and their parents, the Middle School Youth Program, and the Kids Summer Camp and After School Programs.

Member At Large

Susan Miller :: Educator

Susan Miller is the special education teacher at GES and is now serving her 2nd term on the board. Susan is head of the Communications and Community Outreach Committee, which will work toinclude GES in the larger community.  This committee will seek to promote GES to the community and offer service to the community when it is educationally relevant. This committee will also work to organize volunteers and match their strengths to the needs of the school. The committee head will also act as the Great Expectations Foundation Liaison.

Member At Large

Adam Helbach :: Educator

Adam Helbach is a Paraprofessional that has been with GES for three years.  Though an employee at GES, he serves as a community member on the board