High school special education teacher Clare Sallstrom is a new teacher at Cleveland this year…sort of.
Starting in 2017, Sallstrom taught in Cleveland for three years at the elementary level before moving to a high school position at Mankato Area Public Schools. She took a year off from teaching last year.
“I didn't really have a plan to come back to teaching this year, but when I heard about an opening at Cleveland at the high school level, I didn't want to pass it up. It is a special place, and I've missed it.”
Born and raised in Mankato, Sallstrom is a Loyola graduate.
She decided to become a teacher after working at Camp Jotoni summer camp in Warren, NJ for two summers during her college years. There, she assisted children and adults with disabilities.
“I still think of the kids and adults that I met there and am thankful they led me to this profession.”
She earned a Bachelor of Science, Special Education K-12 from Winona State University and a Masters of Science, Special Education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities from Minnesota State, Moorhead. She taught at Rosa Parks Elementary in Mankato for six years before taking the position at Cleveland the first time.
When she is not teaching, Sallstrom likes to read, spend time at the lake, go camping and dirt bike racing with her husband Jay and their two little girls.