Our Board

Our School Board is made up of visionary teachers, passionate professionals, a driven social worker, parents, and small business owners who are invested in the growth and education of our young scholars in the Heartland Lakes area of Park Rapids, MN community.

Benn Sundsrud

Freelance Programmer

HLCS Board Chair

Parent Member

Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/29

Committees: Finance, Governance, Curriculum,

Facilities & Grounds

Benn is a Park Rapids native and software developer. He also enjoys working with kids through STEM and Robotics, mentoring kids on programming and 3D design.

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Jamie Simon-Linkowitz

Licensed Teacher

HLCS Vice-Chair

Parent Member

Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/29

Committees: Governance

Jamie has decades of experience teaching in a variety of different communities and languages. She is a fluent Spanish-speaker and a life-long learner.

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Gretchen Pederson

Business Analyst

HLCS Treasurer

Parent Member

Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/29

Committees: Finance,

Facilities & Grounds

Smart and collaborative, Gretchen brings her incredible knowledge and experience in the world of finance - along with her love of Park Rapids - to the HLCS board.

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Elise Erickson

HLCS Licensed Teacher

Teacher Member

Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/28

Committees: Curriculum

Thoughtful and wise, Elise brings her passion for education, student-centered approach, and great questions to the HLCS board.

Elise and her family live in Park Rapids, MN.

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Sue Leopold

Retired Teacher/Volunteer

Community Member

Term: 7/1/26-6/30/29

Committees: Curriculum,

Facilities & Grounds

I am a retired educator. I taught in public schools for 10 years, then spent 25 years in Head Start, working with families and young children. I have been a Foster Grandparent volunteer at HLCS for 2 years. My husband and I live outside of Park Rapids, where I enjoy gardening, paddling, snowshoeing, reading and walks in the woods.

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Betty Wignes

Retired Teacher

Community Member

Term: 7/1/26 - 6/30/29

Committees: TBD

As a retired teacher I am excited to be on the board at HLCS. The outdoor emphasis is especially exciting. My husband and I retired to Nevis and love being in the outdoors, hiking, biking and gardening.

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Current School Board Roster

School Board Election

Heartland Lakes Community School's next board election will be held in Spring, 2028. Our board is required by MN State law to have the following members: