The Education Minnesota Foundation for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was established in 1992 as the MEA Children’s Foundation. It is affiliated with Education Minnesota, but functions independently as a nonprofit corporation.
It is funded through Education Minnesota members and donations from individuals and organizations that believe in the mission of the Foundation, supporting initiatives by Education Minnesota members, and promoting access for learners and excellence in teaching in Minnesota.
The decisions about funding and management of the Foundation rests with a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is made up of eight K-12 teachers, one ESP at-large member, one higher education at-large member, one at-large member, one retired at-large member, and the officers of Education Minnesota. You can read about the board below.
The Foundation Director carries out the board’s management decisions and day-to- day operations with the Collaboration Lab Coordinator and the assistance of a support staff person.
All grants and scholarships offered by the Foundation are offered only to active, dues-paying Education Minnesota members.
Lisa Nelson, Foundation Board President
Lisa Nelson currently teaches fourth grade in Mounds View. In her over 24 years as an educator, she has also served as a math specialist and taught kindergarten and first and second grades. Lisa enjoys working with practicum students and student teachers in her classroom, passing along the lessons she learned along the way.
When she has free time, Lisa enjoys cooking, traveling, and staying active. Lisa has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 4 seat since 2018.
Monica Byron, Education Minnesota Vice President
Monica Byron was elected vice president of Education Minnesota at the Representative Convention April 23, 2022.
Monica taught for 24 years in Richfield Public Schools, most recently as an elementary math coach.
Monica has held many local union positions as a member of Education Richfield, including treasurer, membership chair, government relations chair and vice president. She has also been very active in Education Minnesota and at the national level, including five years on the Governing Board, serving on numerous committees and attending trainings and conferences.
Monica is a founding member of Education Minnesota’s Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee. After attending a National Education Association Minority Leadership Training, she and others from Minnesota came back to the committee to engage and connect members of color in their state and local unions. EMAC was formed and continues today.
Monica is the first Black person to serve on Education Minnesota’s officer team and looks forward to helping transform the public mindset of education and work to retain and engage all members, especially BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) members.
Rodney Rowe, Education Minnesota Secretary-Treasurer
Rodney Rowe was elected secretary-treasurer of Education Minnesota at the Representative Convention in April 2013 and re-elected in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Rodney spent the last nine years as a member of the Education Minnesota Governing Board. For the last 10 years, he was member rights chair of the Great Southwest United Governing Board, a regional group of Education Minnesota locals. In addition to leadership experience at the state and regional levels, he has extensive experience at the local level. In Worthington, he served as membership chair, a member rights advocate, a member of the Executive Committee and a building representative. In Sleepy Eye, he served as local president, a member of the Negotiations and Government Relations committees, and Grievance Committee chair.
Rodney taught in Minnesota elementary schools for 19 years, co-teaching English language learners for the last three. As Education Minnesota moves forward, he plans to concentrate on how it can use technology more effectively on behalf of members and students.
Myriam Castro-Franco
Myriam Castro-Franco has been teaching for over 32 years—ten years in her home country, Colombia, and over 23 years in various immersion elementary schools in Minnesota. Currently, she teaches at Little Canada Elementary in Roseville. Myriam has Minnesota teaching licenses in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Elementary Education; she also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Myriam enjoys being part of the Education Minnesota Foundation Board, and she appreciates in particular the different skills and knowledge each board member brings to the table. Awarding grants, in Myriam’s opinion, is incredibly fulfilling because it helps to facilitate strong relationships amongst grantees and their coworkers, and it allows educators to be innovative with their students. Serving on the board also allows Myriam to have a small personal impact on education for years to come.
Outside of her job, Myriam enjoys traveling with her family. These experiences give her a closer understanding of the cultures she visits, and at the same time helps her better support her students and their families. Myriam has been on the board serving in an At-Large seat since 2015.
Valarie McWilliams-Jones
Valarie McWilliams-Jones currently works as an achievement specialist in the Wayzata School District. She has spent much of her career advocating for students with disabilities and Black males. Prior to joining education, she worked as a children and family therapist and addictions counselor. Valarie serves on Education Minnesota’s Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) and Special Education Advisory Committee. She also active with Education Minnesota’s Racial Equity Advocate (REA) Program. Valarie has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 3 seat since 2021.
Dawn Paro-Strother
Dawn Paro-Strother is a Band Member of Grand Portage, Minnesota, and has been teaching since 1994 in Duluth. She began her teaching as an Indian Education Teacher/Tutor, traveling around the Duluth Public School District for Grades 1 through 6, where she saw how much of an impact she could make in the classroom. She started her 6th grade classroom teaching and her master’s degree in the same year. Indulging in labor union and social justice issues is her passion now that her four children are grown and living their best lives. Dawn has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 8 seat since 2021.
Peter Ray
Peter Ray has been teaching high school language arts at West Central Area Secondary School in Barrett, Minnesota, since 2014. During his tenure, he has helped to establish a districtwide equity team, and he is a member of the MEA FIRE program. Before joining the faculty at WCA, Peter served as a theatre and arts educator in the Twin Cities. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys exploring Minnesota lakes country with his young son, wife, and Golden Retriever. Peter and his wife, Jenna, are members of the University of Minnesota President’s Club Heritage Society. Peter has been on the board since 2021, now serving in the Congressional District 2 seat.
Michelle Urevig-Grilz
Michelle Urevig-Grilz has been a parent and family education teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools for over 20 years, an equity advocate, and an active union member since college. Michelle served as chair of her local elections committee for 2 years and brought back online voting so that members could have a fair and equitable elections process. Michelle also serves on the Education Minnesota Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) and is a member of the Early Career Leadership Fellowship as a coach for teachers entering the field. Michelle has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 6 seat since 2021.
Kamille Wells
Kamille has been a public elementary school teacher since 1999. She is currently a literacy coach at Sullivan STEAM in Minneapolis Public Schools. Kamille earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1997. She obtained her first Master’s Degree in 2004 in teaching and learning from St. Mary’s University. In 2010, she obtained her Education Specialist Degree from St. Mary’s University in curriculum, assessment and instruction. She also received her Reading Specialist license in 2012 along with her second Master’s Degree in Literacy. In her free time, Kamille enjoys painting/coloring, hiking, listening to music, reading, watching scary movies and spending quality time with her family watching football. Go Vikings!
Kamille is a firm believer that all children can learn and reach their highest potential, when we provide Windows for students to see things from a different perspective and Mirrors for students to see themselves represented in their education. Equity, culture inclusion and diversity is meticulously weaved into every inch of her classrooms. She is committed to public education. Kamille has been on the board serving in the Congressional District 5 seat since 2021.
Sue Westegaard
Sue Westegaard retired in July 2016. She taught mathematics for 45 years—25 years at Montgomery Lonsdale Public Schools (now Tri-City United) and her last 20 years at Hopkins High School. From October 2011 until March 2020, Sue taught yoga to inmates at the Scott County Jail. During Winter & Summer 2022, Sue financially supported and encouraged the development of two classes titled Water Safety for Women. They were designed to be accessible to the Muslim women and girls in the community as well as any other women who are more comfortable being with female instructors in a small group setting. There are plans for these classes to continue. Sue has served on the Education Minnesota Foundation Board since 2007, currently in the Retiree At-Large seat.