His wife, Gwen, was also an English teacher in the same school. Watching him now, after 18 years in the tough and often inauthentic world of politics, I am in awe at how he is still the same person.
In 2006, he ran a grassroots campaign to become our district’s congressman with volunteers who included many former students and some of my friends. He beat a Republican incumbent millionaire. After he was elected, I was shocked. Here he was, on a teacher’s salary of probably $US40,000, beating one of the handful of millionaires in our area. Surely, this would be the peak of his political career. But then I watched on again as he became the governor of Minnesota, and now the Democrats’ VP candidate. He beat the odds then, and now he is doing it again.
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As governor of Minnesota, Walz championed a law providing free breakfasts and lunches to students, understanding the fundamental role of education and nourishment in a child’s life. During his visit to Australia last November, he highlighted the shared challenge of affordable housing between our nations, using a simple yet profound litmus test: whether a public school teacher could afford a house.
And 20 years on from my days in his classroom, I can see that he continues to captivate audiences, even if they are substantially bigger. His teaching experience has honed his ability to engage with the disconnected and disaffected, a crucial skill in today’s polarised political climate.
He says issues like climate change can feel too overwhelming, and that is why people disengage. In true teacher style, he argues we need to break the issues down into something more achievable for people. His knack for simplifying something complex and making it relatable is a testament to his background and the fresh perspective it brings to politics.
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While 26 former presidents have been lawyers (Walz is the first Democratic VP candidate since 1964 who did not attend law school), only five have taught at universities. Rarely has a high school teacher come so close to the Oval Office.
In a political landscape dominated by career politicians and lawyers, Tim Walz’s candidacy offers a refreshing change. His years as a high school teacher bring a perspective to the table that emphasises engagement, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of societal challenges.
I feel so proud to see my high school teacher rise in political leadership. The person who taught me about US presidents in history class now has the chance to be a US vice president.
Kayley Lyons is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health at the University of Melbourne.
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