about Missy
Experience in Education
My career began in education, supporting students in the Shakopee School District in an all–6th grade middle school. I worked in special education, supporting students in Setting III EBD, and later served in Minneapolis Public Schools working with students across all special education settings. While in Minneapolis, I partnered with school leadership to co-develop a new behavior intervention system designed to address school avoidance and ensure inclusion for all students. This work focused on holistic, student-centered supports and tracked federal reporting data to ensure equity in practice.
I later joined Minnetonka Public Schools, where I developed the Student Climate Program at Minnetonka Middle School West , supporting nearly 1,400 students and their teachers. My role centered on fostering belonging and ensuring that staff and students had the tools and support they needed to thrive. In 2020, I advised the Minnetonka School Board on equity goals, helping the district create space where both staff and students could bring their full selves to school.
Community & Family Support
After my time in Minneapolis Public Schools, I worked with a nonprofit to develop a program for Hennepin County residents utilizing MFIP. The program addressed generational trauma and barriers that prevented families from moving forward, from housing and healthcare to chemical health and school engagement. I wrote the intake and designed the program around active efforts, meeting families where they were, driving them to first appointments, and directly partnering with schools to support children.
Through this work, students were able to stabilize, graduate, and succeed, while parents gained tools to build sustainable lives. Many families were able to move off public assistance as a result of the program. This experience reinforced my belief that empowering families and showing up as a community change outcomes for everyone.
Leadership & Advocacy
I went on to serve as a Guardian ad Litem Supervisor in Hennepin County, overseeing more than 175 child protection cases and training staff to ensure children’s best interests were represented in court. I also collaborated with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to train new attorneys during Mock Trials. Currently, I serve as Supervisor for the Family and Juvenile Court Division in Minnesota’s 10th Judicial District, working closely with judges, attorneys, and justice partners to ensure compassionate, efficient, and equitable court services.
In addition to my professional roles, I coach strength training. For me, showing up for yourself in this way is a radical form of self-lovean investment in health and well-being that strengthens both individuals and the communities they are part of.
Why I’m Running
From classrooms to courtrooms, my career has been dedicated to ensuring people have the support they need to succeed. I am running for the St. Louis Park School Board because I believe that belonging matters, for students, for staff, and for families.
Teachers should have the resources, pay, and benefits they need to focus on teaching. Students should be able to bring their full selves into the classroom without barriers holding them back. Families should feel connected to schools as partners in their child’s success.
St. Louis Park has a proud tradition of community and care, and I want to help carry that forward. Together, we can create schools where every student and educator feels valued, supported, and empowered.