Meet the Principal
Erin Karlgaard, Principal
Erin Karlgaard is excited to serve as principal at Lowell Elementary School for the upcoming school year! Throughout her years in education, Erin has taught in music, reading intervention, gifted and talented classrooms, as well as taught undergraduate and graduate education courses. Erin received her undergrad degrees in music education and vocal performance from South Dakota State University. She later added K-6 elementary education to her license, as she desired to grow relationships with students she could work with all day, every day. She earned her Master’s Degree in Teaching from The College of St. Scholastica where she also earned her Educational Doctorate in Leadership, with a dissertation that examined the role of student voice in the educational system. Erin has presented at many state conferences around topics relating to student voice, critical thinking and philosophical questioning, productive struggle and social-emotional support, and MTSS for gifted learners.
Dr. Karlgaard recognizes that every child’s story, background, and experiences are important in shaping how students learn in our classrooms. She also believes that the future of education requires a shift in instructional practices through empowering students who are equipped to critically question and creatively problem solve. She states, “When we change from simply creating the questions to creating the questioners, we will have revolutionized the educational system.”
When not in school, Erin loves spending time with her family exploring the Brainerd Lakes area, especially the lake! Dr. Karlgaard is a proud wife and mother to two amazing adult ‘kids’ and a spoiled fur baby.
Contact Information
218-454-6555