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| Affiliation | Democratic-Farmer-Labor |
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2007-00-00 |
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| Name | John Ward |
| Address |
Brainerd, Minnesota , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
August 02, 1950
(73 years)
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| Contributor | The Oncoming Storm |
| Last Modifed | IndyGeorgia
Jun 23, 2010 09:21pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | John Ward was born August 2, 1950 in Duluth, Minnesota, the oldest of six children for Jack and Janice Ward. John grew up in a typical middle-class household in Proctor, Minnesota. His father was a labor relations manager for the DM&IR railroad and his mother worked in banking.
John graduated from Proctor High School in 1968 and went on to the University of Minnesota, Duluth to pursue his goal of becoming an educator. He graduated from UMD in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and health. He also received certifications in coaching and driver’s education. Later in John’s career, he returned to UMD earning a Master of Arts degree in learning disabilities. He received that degree in 1982 and then attended the University of Wisconsin, Superior earning a teaching certificate for emotional behavior disorders in 1984.
John married Sally Gfrerer on April 27, 1974 in Stillwater, Minnesota. John and Sally made their home in Proctor and over the next 10 years had four children: Amy, Eric, Ryan, and Shannon. The Ward family has grown over the years with the addition of Amy’s husband, Mike, and their two children, Jewel and Anika, and Eric’s wife, Becca, and their two children, Grace and Sophia.
John began his political career 1982 by getting elected to the Proctor City Council. Two years into his four year term, John was urged to run for mayor. John took on that challenge and defeated the incumbent, becoming mayor of Proctor in 1984. John devoted himself to the city, undertaking and succeeding in more public works projects than any mayor before him. John easily won re-election as Proctor’s mayor in 1986.
John has been an educator for the past 32 years, first in Proctor, and then in Brainerd. He began his professional career in 1974 as an Adult Basic Education Instructor for the Northeast Regional Corrections Center. In his five years there, he also worked as the Recreation Director and the Community Coordinator for Project C.A.R.E. In 1979, John became the Alternative Education Director, a program he developed for ISD 704 in Proctor. John spent eight years in that position helping to educate those with difficult backgrounds and troubled lives. In 1987, an opportunity presented itself to John which precipitated moving his family to Brainerd. John accepted a position in the Brainerd School system as an Emotional Behavioral Disorder Instructor. In his nine years in that position, John devoted himself to helping those less fortunate and being an advocate for their needs. In 1993, John developed the award-winning Service Learning program. This program places high school students in volunteer positions throughout the community helping them to understand the benefits of volunteerism.
Throughout John’s career as an educator, he has served in a number of coaching positions including:
Head Varsity Coach, Girls Softball, 1996-1998
Head Varsity Coach, Adapted Floor Hockey, 1994-1999
Assistant Varsity Coach, Football, 1976-1996
Assistant Varsity Coach, Girls Basketball, 1979-1982
Assistant Varsity Coach, Baseball, 1974-1976
Assistant Varsity Coach, Girls Softball, 1979-1992
John and his wife Sally are also licensed property/casualty insurance agents for the EPIC Insurance Agency. They have been working in this capacity since 1995.
John has received a number of honors and awards:
Shriner’s Hospital Rainbow of Hope Award, 1998
Minnesota State High School Championship Coaches Award, 1998
8AA Section Girls Softball Coach of the Year, 1996
Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semi-finalist, 1992
Brainerd Teacher of the Year, 1992
John is active in his community:
St. Francis Church Parish Eucharistic Minister
Past St. Francis Church Parish Council Member
Past St. Francis Church Parish School Board Member
Former St. Francis Church Parish Lector
Former Elks Youth Camp Coordinator
Past Egerdahl Memorial Fund Vice President
Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center Board of Directors
Sexual Assault Services Board of Directors
Crow Wing County DFL Board of Directors
John is or has been a member of a number of professional organizations:
Minnesota State High School Coaches Association
Minnesota Adapted Athletics Coaches and Coordinators Association
Education Minnesota, Brainerd
Mid-Minnesota Uniserv Governing Board Member
Brainerd Elks Club
Brainerd Moose Club
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