is to support education and community activities that benefit our youth, teachers, programs, and communities. We bring the resources of the community, private sector, and school system together in partnership to enhance the Forest Lake Area Schools’ Community.

The Forest Lake Area Schools strategic planning process was the driving force in establishing The Education Foundation of the Forest Lake Area (TEFFLA). Of the nine strategies that guide the work of the district, Strategy V states: We will engage the entire community to be active participants in the educational process.

Within this strategy, a specific outcome was identified: Establish a Forest Lake Area Schools education foundation which brings the resources of the community, private sector, and school system together to generate human and financial resources for the Forest Lake Area Schools. During the 2006-07 school year, work began with a group of community and staff members to work on making an education foundation a reality. Through this group’s hard work and persistence, TEFFLA was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to serve the Forest Lake Area. Our goal is to enhance opportunities that will benefit youth, teachers, programs, and communities. School districts across the country have similar education foundations, including more than 35 in Minnesota.

The area served by TEFFLA and Forest Lake Area Schools lies to the north of the Twin Cities, along the I-35 corridor on the way to Duluth. Spanning portions of Anoka, Chisago, and Washington counties, communities served include: Forest Lake, May Township, New Scandia Township, Wyoming, Lino Lakes, Columbus Township, Linwood Township, and parts of Marine-on-St. Croix, Hugo, Stacy, Ham Lake, Wyoming Township and East Bethel.  Many of these communities have grown rapidly in recent years, with new residents and businesses alike drawn to the wonderful things the region has to offer.

Approximately 7,000 students from these communities are enrolled in Forest Lake Area Schools each year. The school district is also the area’s largest employer, employing approximately 1,200 people.

Alex Keto, Chairperson

Alex and his wife Susan have lived in Forest Lake since 1992. They have three children who all graduated from FLHS. Alex and Susan have five grandchildren. After retiring from a career in field marketing, Alex got his short call teaching license and worked as a substitute teacher and para for Forest Lake Area schools, NE Metro Intermediate School District #916 and Teachers on Call. Susan retired from Fairview in Wyoming, where she worked as an RN for over forty years. The Ketos also owned and operated a small restaurant business, Blimpie Subs & Salads in Forest Lake, for seven years. Alex graduated with a BA degree in journalism/advertising from the University of Minnesota and an MA degree in Leadership from Augsburg College. Alex is a trained Life & Career Coach. Alex is currently serving on the Forest Lake Community Education Advisory Board and the Northeast Metro #916 school board.

“My mother was an elementary school teacher in the northern Minnesota county schools all of her life. She taught me the importance of education and the need to continue to educate yourself (and others) through lifelong learning. I believe in a popular African proverb that says “it takes a village to raise a child”. TEFFLA was originally founded to meet a strategy of the Forest Lake Area School District that stated:  “We will engage the entire community to be active participants in the educational process”. I am proud & honored to join the TEFFLA board as a way to give back to the community where we live and worked and to engage our community in supporting and furthering education within our community.”

Kelly Tschudy-Lafean, Vice Chairperson

Kelly graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelors and Masters degree in Special Education and an Educational Specialist Degree from Minnesota State University.  She began her career in teaching overseas and spent 9 years in South Washington County Schools teaching special education. Kelly is completing her 20th year in the Forest Lake Area Schools as a Principal. Kelly resides in Scandia with her husband Steve and daughters Blair and Lydia. She is grateful and very excited about the opportunity to serve the community through TEFFLA.

“The Generosity and dedication in the contributions to our schools and community from TEFFLA is truly remarkable. The positive difference that the support from TEFFLA has given educators to create innovative experiences to prepare our students for the future is an organization that has demonstrated compassion for their community. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the TEFFLA Board.”

Julie Ohman, Secretary

Julie is proud to have spent her entire career in Forest Lake Area Schools before retiring five years ago. She taught at Forest View Elementary School and later served as Director of Community Education for the district. She and her husband, Ross, have lived in Forest Lake since 1992 and their three children all graduated from Forest Lake Area High School. Julie serves on the board for the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund Inc. and is an Ambassador for the Forest Lake Lake Association. She volunteers with the Lakes Center for Youth and Families and on the Lakes Area Feed My Starving Children MobilePack Committee. Julie and Ross are active members at Hosanna Lutheran Church where Julie sings in the Sr. Choir.

“I am grateful to have been a part of the original group that worked to make TEFFLA a reality, I am thankful to be a member of the board and to support educational experiences and innovative projects for our wonderful school district and community.”

Jesse Johnson, Treasurer

Jesse was born and raised in Forest Lake, graduating from Forest Lake High School in 1996. He attended the University of St. Thomas and earned degrees in Finance and Economics. Jesse returned to Forest Lake in 2002, with his wife Shauna, and started an insurance and financial services practice with State Farm. They have three children in the Forest Lake Area schools and are dedicated to serving their community. Jesse is a Rotarian and past Rotary President, former board member of the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce, and past chair of the Forest Lake YMCA Community Board, on which he still serves.

“I am excited to begin a new opportunity of service with TEFFLA. It is a paramount goal for me that Forest Lake students are provided the opportunities they deserve, ones that will better position them to realize and work towards their potential as young adults.”

Todd Proulx, Board Member

Todd and his wife Clare have been residents of Wyoming, MN for over 30 years. They have three daughters, all graduates of FLAHS. Presently President and owner of f64 business services, Todd works with credit unions on lending and core initiatives as well as with providers to bring new products and services to the credit union system both in the US and Internationally. Todd is a frequent contributor and speaker to the Centre for Community Finance Europe. Todd is also the owner of tlc digital images, a locally based photography company. Todd has held varied board seats including Dakota County Electric Association and Faith Lutheran Church and currently chairs the Supervisory. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Anoka Hennepin Credit Union, a credit union chartered by teachers and is on the Board of Advisors for NetGiver a Credit Union CUSO.

"We were introduced to TEFFLA in 2011 and quickly learned it was an organization that we would be proud to support. The Peterson Family is committed to giving back to the community for the many great opportunities the community has given us over the years."

Andrea Klostermann, Board Member

Andrea graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2000 with majors in Dietetics and Foods and Nutrition. As a product technologist, she has worked at General Mills for 17 years. Andrea is a reading buddy at Wyoming Elementary School and volunteers for Junior Achievement. In 2017 she was honored as the Upper Midwest Junior Achievement Elementary Volunteer of the Year. Andrea and her husband have two boys who attend schools in the Forest Lake Area school district. Education and the environment are a few of her passions. Besides spending time with family and friends, her hobbies include singing, crafting, gardening, canning and cooking.

“I am interested in TEFFLA because I want the opportunity to have a deeper connection within the school system and want hands-on involvement.”

Jill Krautkremer, Board Member

Jill has had the privilege of working in every school in the Forest Lake School District since beginning as a School Psychologist in 2003. Jill has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Iowa State University, completed graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse to become a School Psychologist, as well as further studies at Hamline University in Special Education Administration. Jill lives in the Forest Lake Area with her husband Jake. Their two children are both students in Forest Lake Area Schools. Jill volunteers with her children’s activities, including Girl Scouts and several area youth sports associations. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning new things through reading and traveling, and various crafts.

"As a previous grant recipient, I am excited to be joining the TEFFLA Board in order to give back to an organization that has invested in so many innovative educational ideas for students in the Forest Lake Area."

Connie Henrickson, Board Member

Connie and her husband, have lived in Forest Lake since Jerry’s graduation from college. Their children Mark and Ruth both graduated from Forest Lake Area High School.

Prior to teaching in Forest Lake Connie taught in Luverne, MN and Marquette, Mich. Both Jerry and Connie taught school in ISD 831. After several years of teaching both left the field to enter other careers. Jerry continued with a career in the insurance industry.

Connie’s career moves include:

• Co-owner of Hunnywood Preschool (80 students) located in Wyoming, MN
• Hired by Community Education Director to design and coordinate the ISD 831 School Age Care (SAC) Program (providing care for students before and after school and half day kindergarten care in all seven elementary school
• Part time consultant for the School Age Care Education Program at Concordia University (CU) in St. Paul, MN
• Office manager of Security Victor Insurance Agency in Wyoming which she and Jerry owned

Connie also served on the Youth Service Bureau Board of Directors (YSB). She is currently on the YMCA Forest Lake, Board of Directors. She is also an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake and currently on the Benevolent Committee.

“I was so happy to be asked to be on the TEFFLA Board of Directors. Have always admired this organization and what it does for ISD 831. Wonderful to be part of an organization that works within a community to help make the school district schools better and stronger.”

Mike Becchetti, Board Member

Mike and his family have lived in Lino Lakes since 2009. His wife, Hillary, is an attorney and dental practice transitions broker at her practice, Pine Lake Law Firm, LLC. Mike and Hillary have three daughters who attend Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) in Forest Lake. Mike’s mother and grandfather were K-12 educators in the north metro for over 40 years. His mother taught elementary education. His grandfather taught Industrial Arts at Forest Lake Area High School and was the Trades and Industry Coordinator in the Spring Lake Park School District, which sparked Mike’s interest in the construction industry at a young age. Mike is a 2001 graduate of Minnesota State University, Moorhead, with a B.S. Degree in Construction Management. He is currently the Construction Executive of the healthcare business unit at Kraus-Anderson Construction in Minneapolis.

“Growing up in a family of K-12 educators, I experienced the value of quality education for our families and community. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with you on the TEFFLA Board, which strives to provide a positive impact in the Forest Lake Area Schools system.”

Laurie Chelgren, Board Member

Laurie grew up in Warwick, RI, and moved to St. Paul, MN for college. She and her husband, Chad, live in Forest Lake and have two children that attend Forest Lake Area High School. Laurie currently serves as the principal at Wyoming Elementary. Before her role as principal, Laurie taught all grade levels, K-6, and served as the district’s literacy and math specialist. Laurie taught Reading Recovery at many of the elementary schools in Forest Lake and also was a Targeted Services Coordinator. She is proud of her 20+ years in the district. In her spare time, Laurie enjoys gardening, biking, trips to the North Shore, trips out east, and training her new puppy, Leo.

“I’m thrilled to be back on the TEFFLA board again. It’s wonderful to be part of a group that cares so deeply about students, educators, and helping them enrich the classroom experience.”

Gretchen Mattson, Board Member

Gretchen is in her third year as the principal at Linwood Elementary. She is grateful to have found a school in a small community with a school forest where she is passionately invested in everything this school and the Forest Lake district has to offer. Over the past 20 years, she has worked as a teacher and instructional leader in Roseville Area Schools and most recently in Minneapolis Public Schools where she was able to have rich experiences and learn from amazing educators. She knows her most important job at Linwood is to ensure that children are always at the center of our work and is passionate about mentoring and building the Linwood staff to be the best educators for their students. In addition to her role as an educational leader, she is first and foremost a mom. Gretchen has a teenage daughter and son whom she never tires talking about how proud she is of who they are and cheering them on in their activities and passions. She enjoys making memories with family and friends, knitting, reading, writing, traveling, baking sweets, and investing in others.

"I am thrilled to be able to be a member of the TEFFLA Board. Our school has been blessed by grants awarded from TEFFLA which have allowed us to provide experiences that we would not have been able to provide without their help. I have seen first hand how TEFFLA gives back to our community so that our Forest Lake area students have access to resources and opportunities that help them learn and grow in ways that are unimaginable."

Steve Massey, Ex-Officio Board Member

Steve lives in the Forest Lake community and has worked in a variety of positions in the school district including assistant principal, principal, and is currently serving as superintendent. Steve and his wife Kate, who is a second grade teacher in the district, have three boys, all of whom have graduated from or currently attend Forest Lake Schools. He serves on the Lakes Center for Youth and Family Board of Directors, the Community Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors, and will soon be joining the Forest Lake Rotary. He earned his BA degree from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, his MA degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and his Ed.D from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

“Our greatest community asset is the education we provide for our students. TEFFLA enriches student-learning opportunities through the generous contributions of others. I am honored to serve on the TEFFLA Board and to give back to this great community.”

Kate Massey, Administrative Assistant

Kate is a graduate of the University of MN-Duluth and has resided in Forest Lake since 1988. Kate began her teaching career in the Chisago Lakes School District and was hired by the Forest Lake Area School District in 2002. Kate and her husband, Steve, have three boys who all graduated from Forest Lake High School. After 33 years of teaching, Kate retired in 2021. Since her retirement, she has filled her time with her other interests and has begun volunteering with a few local organizations.

"As a former teacher in the Forest Lake District, I have been able to witness the benefits of the TEFFLA organization firsthand, and look forward to being a part of this valuable Foundation."