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—— Who am I?
Jesse Bergstrom
I am the parent of three young boys in District 110. My wife, Jamie, and I have lived in Waconia for 17 years and have watched it grow, change, and overcome many issues the world has thrown at this little community.
I am an author and illustrator of children’s books and am focusing my energy on creating worlds where children can explore, learn, and grow. Before my current career, I built, grew, and sold a successful electronic medical record company that created software for government-sponsored health care systems. Consequently, I have experience managing budgets, managing personnel, and balancing governmental oversight with practical solutions.
I am an author and illustrator of children’s books and am focusing my energy on creating worlds where children can explore, learn, and grow. Before my current career, I built, grew, and sold a successful electronic medical record company that created software for government-sponsored health care systems. Consequently, I have experience managing budgets, managing personnel, and balancing governmental oversight with practical solutions.
I am also engaged in educational and local non-profits serving on boards and committees. I serve on Art Buddies (an after-school creative mentorship organization) executive board and on Waconia’s own Faith Lutheran church council. My family and I have also been involved with Common Hope, a non-profit focused on helping children in Antigua, Guatemala, graduate from high school, allowing them to escape generational poverty. These diverse experiences with the community and education have provided me with a broad perspective on the value and implementation of education.
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I am a life-long learner, but that does not mean I have always taken the most common path to knowledge. In January of 2023, I will receive my first diploma, a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults. See, I left high school early to begin my degree at 17 years old, then left college after only three years to be part of the technology startup I was interning with. My education did not stop when I left those institutions, though. I continue learning every day because they taught me how to learn.
For me, the most important function of any learning institution, including ISD 110, is teaching its students how to learn. Living in the technology sector for 20+ years has taught me how quickly those who don’t keep learning fall behind. And I want our children confidently stepping into the future.