Lanesboro Schools welcomed two new teachers this fall. Morgan Knutson is teaching secondary life science and Lea Jensson is teaching elementary special education.
Morgan Knutson feels that she was always meant to be teacher; she loves working with kids and helping them learn. her awesome science teachers in high school fed her love of science.
Morgan graduated from Chatfield in 2011 and went to NDSU in Fargo, N. Dak.where she received a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Technology. She became a certified veterinary technician and worked in area clinics for three years. She then went back to school and completed the Master of Arts in Teaching program at St. Mary’s University in Winona.
Knutson taught biology at Hayfield High School for a year and then found a position at Fillmore Central where she taught middle school and high school science for six years.
Knutson shared that starting at a new school after being at a different one for six years felt daunting. She is teaching courses she has not taught in a few years; she is working to rebuild her curriculum the way she likes which will take some time. At her previous school she taught under a block schedule; the eight period day is another change for her. She noted that she is enjoying the new schedule. This year Knutson is teaching a math class which is new assignment for her.
This year she’s teaching seventh grade Life Science, eighth Grade Earth Science, eighth Grade Algebra I, 10th Grade Biology and Advanced Biology (Anatomy & Physiology). Mrs. Knutson loves teaching biology, anatomy and physiology again.
Her goal this year is to build her class curriculums to ones she can be proud of and get into a good routine to best utilize her time.
Morgan lives with her husband of 10 years,Ty, and her two boys Leyton (8) and Grayden (6) outside of Lanesboro on Ty’s family farm. In her spare time, Morgan enjoys reading, baking, exercising, golfing, gardening and spending time with her family.
According to Morgan, the biggest thing about teaching in Lanesboro is that she is now in the same district as her sons.
Lea Jensson will begin her official teaching career as an elementary special education teacher at Lanesboro, but she’s not new to the school. Lea previously worked as a special education aide in the district.
Lea declared that she has found so much joy and purpose in helping young learners. “Teaching gives me the opportunity to create a classroom where students feel excited to learn and attend school. The ability to make a positive difference every single day is what first drew me to teaching and what continues to inspire me,” she explained.
Jensson earned her Associate’s in Liberal Arts at Rochester Community and Technical College. After working as a special education aide, she decided to go back to school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Winona State University-Rochester.
Learning the “ins and outs of the special education field” and finding the best ways to meet each student’s unique needs are what Jensson sees as her biggest challenges this year.
Lea will be living in Lanesboro with her partner Justin, her cat Talia and her turtle Coconut. Hobbies Lea enjoys include birdwatching, reading, creating educational materials, watching documentaries and spending time with her pets, friends and family.
Living and teaching in the same community is something that Lea is looking forward to. She loves the idea of having a chance to connect to students and families both at school and in the community.
Building strong, trusting relationships with her students and helping them each make “meaningful progress academically, socially and emotionally” are goals that Jensson has set for herself in her classroom this year.
Jensson is excited to be a part of the close knit Lanesboro school; she knows that at Lanesboro “teachers are valued, collaboration is encouraged, and students are truly at the heart of everything we do.”
Welcome to both Morgan Knutson and Lea Jensson! Enjoy your first year teaching at Lanesboro Schools!
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