Introducing interim Principal Wendy Loberg
Loberg takes on position amid pandemic
Interim Principal Wendy Loberg takes a call while working. Loberg previously served as principal of Maple Grove Senior High School.
September 4, 2020
Driving up to her cabin, Wendy Loberg received an unexpected call from superintendent Astein Osei offering her the position of interim principal at Park. Just days later, Loberg made the decision to come out of retirement and take on the role.
“All my friends think I’ve lost my mind. They’re like ‘why now?’” Loberg said. “I’m like ‘I don’t know, it just felt right’ and I’m excited and having a ball. I love to work.”
Though Loberg has spent the last seven years in retirement, she has stayed involved in the education world. From creating her educational model called “A Better Way,” to spending her time volunteering at Peter Hobart, earning herself the nickname “Grandma Wendy” among the students.
According to Loberg, “A Better Way” is a training module for educators that works to inform them on trauma-informed practices, as well as social-emotional learning and a variety of other restorative practices. Loberg had been training districts across Minnesota with these practices, including St. Louis Park.
In college, Loberg planned on becoming a lawyer, but after being exposed to the competitive nature of other potential lawyers, Loberg chose to begin on a path to teach physical education and speech. As time went on, teaching turned into counseling, which turned into administrating. For the last three years before she retired, Loberg served as principal on special assignment at Osseo area schools.
“I ended up getting pulled into administration, pushing and shoving, but I ended up loving it because I understood kids; I understood the systems of school; I understood mental health; I understood Special Needs. I understood so many things about the development of young people. I knew how to help them and I loved it,“ Loberg said.
Although Loberg is disappointed to not be in school with students right away, she said this year is the perfect opportunity to redesign and rethink long-standing educational traditions.
“I am truly excited about having the privilege of getting to design education in a way that can better meet the varying needs of our kids,” Loberg said. ”Kids can learn whatever time of day they best learn. They can log on to get the instruction and do the follow-up work at three in the morning if that’s when they can best think.”
Hoping to make a significant impact at Park, Loberg has redesigned what was formerly known as advisory into a class called Park Connections. Within this class, students will now have a “point person” that checks in on them daily throughout the school year.
“What everyone’s told me is that I bring an absolute passion for kids and learning. I have a ton of energy. I’m old, but I can keep up with the ball. I bring passion and positivity. I’m a happy person,” Loberg said. “There’s a lot to do. I want to make a difference. I want to make a positive difference in this amazing school.”
