Every parent dreams that their child will be a successful, productive adult. But to have your child enter the same field creates a special bond. This fall, Principals Sandy Gunderson, Mendota Elementary and Colleen Lodholz, Sennett Middle School along with Jack Jorgenson, executive director of Educational Services, all had daughters begin positions in MMSD schools.

Kate Jorgenson is a 7th grade teacher at Sherman Middle School, Lindsay Lodholz is teaching 8th grade at Sherman MS and Katy Gunderson is the new bilingual school psychologist at Nuestro Mundo and Frank Allis Elementary. The proud parents offer their thoughts about passing the torch to a new generation of educators.

"Having Kate in public education adds a unique element to our daughter-father relationship," according to Jack Jorgenson. "We talk about kid and school things that would probably not occur if she were in a different profession.

"I greatly admire her commitment and desire to work with under-represented and disadvantaged students. Her recent two year Peace Corps experience teaching in Africa has definitely broadened her view of the world and teaching. As for passing on the family public education torch...mine will be burning out soon. Kate will be lighting her own torch to lead the way as she begins her teaching career."

"I am so incredibly proud to have a daughter pursue the very noble career of education," says Colleen Lodholz. "There is something truly unique about second generation educators."

"Lindsay first decided she wanted to become a teacher when she was in middle school, at Sennett, where they were just beginning to try full inclusion of students with disabilities. She nurtured her passion for teaching by volunteering in the schools for 7 years, working summers with adolescents through MSCR programs, and has gleaned many skills from her observations and interactions with other Madison educators over the years. It has been fun and extremely rewarding watching her grow as an educator herself."

"While working as a VISTA Volunteer Coordinator at Midvale Elementary after graduating from the UW Madison, Katy was inspired by the professional work of Margo Fischer the school psychologist there," notes Sandy Gunderson. "She also loved working with families and children. She decided that her work in education would be that of a school psychologist.

"She has an undergraduate in Spanish and Latin American and Iberian Studies. Katy has listened to 'school stories' from her mother for years and she has talked about being in education for most of her life. It was a thrilling day when she was hired to work for Madison Schools. Her skills with children and families, her Spanish fluency and her love of teaching and learning will be a great benefit to the school community. We are very proud of her."