HI! I'M ANGELA.
I was born and raised in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and graduated from Coon Rapids High School. To help save money while living at home, I began my college journey at Anoka-Ramsey Community College before transferring to the University of Minnesota. I initially pursued a career in nursing, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that my true passion was in education. I transferred to the University of Minnesota–Duluth, where I earned my teaching degree with a History minor.
​
After graduating, I spent nine years teaching Social Studies at Forest Lake Senior High School while also completing my Master’s degree and administrative licensure. Today, I proudly serve as the principal at Otter Lake Elementary School in White Bear Lake. Prior to that, I spent nine years at White Bear Lake Area High School–North Campus, first as Associate Principal and then as Principal.
​
Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to building schools where students feel they belong, educators feel supported, and families are true partners. I believe strong, inclusive public schools are the backbone of healthy communities, and every student deserves the opportunity to thrive.
​
My commitment to education is deeply tied to my belief in the power of family and community. When schools, families, and neighbors work together, students succeed and communities are stronger for it.
​
On a more personal note, I’m the proud mom of two kids, Milo, who is in sixth grade, and Lila, who is in tenth grade. I love spending time with my family and friends, being outdoors whenever I can, and staying active with my dog, Willow, a white lab who keeps me on my toes.
Simply put, I love our community.
My roots in Coon Rapids run deep. In 1959, my grandparents were among the first couples to build a home in the neighborhood behind Sand Creek Park, while my other grandparents lived just a few blocks away near Shortstop. As a child, I lived behind Lilli Putt, and later my mom, stepdad, sister, and I moved to the area near what is now Riverdale.
​
I have fond memories of walking to Jensen’s Foods, biking to the Coon Rapids Dam, and growing up in a family that believed in hard work and helping others. While we may have been considered middle class on paper, I always felt rich because I had what I needed and was surrounded by people who cared.
​
After college, I moved back to Coon Rapids and bought my first home just down the road from my grandmother. That’s when I began to see more clearly how many families in our community were struggling. Affordable childcare, rising prescription drug costs, and the lack of resources for an aging population were becoming real challenges. Over time, those pressures only grew, and my own family has felt their impact firsthand.
​
Now, as a parent of teenagers, it’s hard to see how much has changed in a community I love. Our public schools are under attack, costs continue to rise, prescription drugs remain unaffordable, and too many families struggle to access quality healthcare. Longstanding local businesses have closed, affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for young families and seniors alike, and too many people feel like they are falling behind.
​
​
​​
​That’s why I’m running for the Minnesota State Senate. I believe leadership means listening, showing up, and working with people to solve real problems. It’s time for action. It’s time for change.
Together, we can build a stronger, more affordable, and more caring future for our community.
We deserve better.
