Steve was raised in Superior, Wisconsin. While attending the University of Minnesota, he met his wife, Patti. They have two adult children. Steve spent more than thirty years teaching American Government and American History. He challenged more than 12,000 students to think for themselves and find empowerment with an advanced sense of political efficacy and civic duty. Steve received numerous awards including: Eden Prairie’s Teacher of the Year, Minnesota finalist for Teacher of the Year, Presidential Scholar’s Influential Teacher, and the Distinguished Teacher Award from the US Congress. After retiring from teaching in 2016, he took the opportunity to enhance his own political efficacy and civic virtue. He ran for public office, winning a seat in the Minnesota State Senate. Steve is excited to promote the same values in the senate that he had advocated for in the classroom.
