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I am honored to give my support to Mary Jo Dorman for Albert Lea school board. I have known Mary Jo for over 30 years, and she is one passionate, intelligent and energetic person who commits to excellence in everything she does.

I volunteered in her first-grade classroom two days a week when I retired for 13 years. She was an exceptional teacher. She inspired students to succeed and celebrated when they made their goals.

She made sure every student knew that she liked, respected and appreciated them. If behaviors happened that needed to be addressed, you could hear her say, “I want you to know that you are still a great person, now we just need a plan to work on this behavior.” She held high standards for herself and for her students.

I still remember the first time each year, when a child had a success, she sent them to the principal’s office,

“Mrs. Tims,” the child would say, “but I didn’t do anything wrong.” She would just respond, “Don’t you think Mrs. Tims would want to celebrate with you, too?” The smile on that child’s face was priceless, and after the first student got to do this, the other students really wanted to feel success and have their chance of visiting the principal’s office, and there they would get to do lunch, or maybe receive a book, or pick out some little trinket, but most of all, having another positive adult interaction.

Mary Jo is masterful in building a child’s spirit. She built mine, I was grateful to have the opportunity to be in her classroom. One year her class nominated me for Albert Lea Citizen of the Year. I received the award and was surprised when she found donations to pay for a bus to get her entire class to the ceremony at Riverland College. Again, the message is Mary Jo will do whatever it takes to make things happen.

I can only imagine the spirit she is giving to her grandchildren. Vote Mary Jo. Albert Lea students need this advocate!

Eunice Hatleli
Albert Lea