Updates from Superintendent Radeke

January 14, 2022

Staff Highlight: Anna Willems - Grade 1 Teacher

Ms. Willems grew up in the Norwood area and attended MSU Mankato for her undergraduate degree. This past fall, she graduated from MSU Moorhead with a graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction. In July, Ms. Willems and Mr. Frank are getting married!


Ms. Willems loves to spend time at the lake in Spicer. Her hobbies include coaching volleyball and softball, playing co-ed softball, walking the isles at Costco and Home Goods, and hosting game nights with friends and neighbors at her home in Hutchinson.


Ms. Willems' favorite movie is The Lorax because it provides many laughs and a good lesson about taking care of our earth. Her favorite book is The Day the Crayons Quit because it makes her students laugh. One thing you may not know about Ms. Willems is that she has season tickets to The Loons and loves attending as many soccer games at Allianz field as possible.

Staff Highlight: Ben Machemehl - Social Studies Teacher

Mr. Machemehl was born and raised in Lester Prairie. He attended college at St. John's University and has been teaching here in Lester Prairie for 7.5 years. Mr. Machemehl is the Head Baseball Coach.


Mr. Machemehl has three children and he and his family just moved to Carver. He enjoys playing/coaching/watching sports, hunting, fishing, sleeping, and eating. His favorite movies include the Harry Potter movies (because he has a crush on Emma Watson) and any movie with Hugh Jackman or Tom Hanks.


If Mr. Machemehl could meet any historical person, it would be Davy Crockett or Kit Carson because he would love to hunt, fish, and explore the western United States with either or both of them.

Staff Highlight: Helen Lester - Preschool Teacher

Ms. Helen has been teaching in Lester Prairie since 2007. She attended Southwest MN State University and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Helen lives on a farm with her husband Mike and step daughter Lila. They raise sheep, cows, and chickens.


Ms. Helen's favorite thing to do is to spend time with her friends and family including her niece and nephews. Her family loves to play board games together and are always looking for new ones to play. Her hobbies include doing puzzles, reading, walking, and baking. Her favorite movie is Monsters Inc because the characters are cute and the storyline is funny.


Something you might not know about Ms. Helen is that she loves to clog dance! Ms. Helen has been clogging since 2019 with the Dassel-Cokato Cloggers. She saw the class offered in the Dassel-Cokato Community Education book and decided to give it a try. After the first class, she was hooked!

Inclement Weather School Delays and/or Closings

Inclement weather delays and closing information is sent out to families and staff via School Messenger. The information is also submitted to channels 4, 5, 9, and 11 as well as KDUZ radio. We also post the information on our Facebook and Twitter sites as well as our school website.

Please make sure you've updated your most recent contact information with the school so that you receive our School Messenger messages.

Do you have any comments or feedback to share?

We would love to hear from you because your voice is important to us. Please click on the white box below and it will take you to a Google Form. Thank you!

Next Regular School Board Meeting: February 14th at 5:45pm in the Media Center

Please visit the School Board tab on our website to view upcoming Board Meeting agendas.

https://www.lp.k12.mn.us/page/2452

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It is the mission of ISD 424 to develop every learner to the learner's maximum potential, to succeed and continue to learn in a changing world.
Lester Prairie Schools

Lester Prairie Schools

Lester Prairie Schools

131 Hickory Street North, Lester Prairie, MN, USA radeke@lp.k12.mn.us 320-395-2521 lp.k12.mn.us