10 interesting facts about Tim Walz’s wife Gwen

Who is Tim Walz’s wife?

Gwen Walz, the wife of Harris’s vice-presidential pick Tim Walz, and Minnesota’s 39th First Lady. has been a longtime teacher. She and her husband, Tim, shared a classroom long before he was chosen to join the Democratic presidential ticket.

A lifelong Minnesotan, she is dedicated to working on behalf of all Minnesotans. Born in Glencoe and raised in western Minnesota, Gwen Walz grew up with her three sisters under the guidance of their parents, Val and Linn, who were educators and small business owners.

Education  

She earned degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and Minnesota State University in Mankato. Gwen began her career teaching English in western Nebraska, where she met Tim Walz. Shortly after, they established a summer program to China for their students, which they continued nearly every summer until 2003.

Career of Gwen Walz

Educating Minnesota’s children is one of Gwen’s passions. Throughout her career, she has taught in public, alternative, and migrant schools, experiences that have shaped her vision. 

For over two decades, Gwen Walz served as an administrator and coordinator in the Mankato Area Public Schools, working to eliminate the achievement gap and promote equity and access within the education system. 

Gwen believes that a robust public education system, from early childhood through senior citizens, is crucial for empowering every Minnesotan to succeed.

Gwen Walzis also a passionate advocate for exemplary education in America’s prisons. She has worked nationwide to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals, whom she refers to as students. 

Gwen believes that corrections must be an integral part of our education system, and by expanding opportunities, we can significantly reduce recidivism rates and transform lives. The Bard Prison Initiative in upstate New York exemplifies the innovative, high-standards approach to a liberal arts college degree that Gwen supports, inclusive of all students. 

Since her initial visit, Gwen Walz has been an active supporter of the Bard Prison Initiative and is involved in efforts to bring its principles to Minnesota and across the country.

Life of Tim Walz’s wife

As part of the liberal arts curriculum for prisons, Gwen and her congressional spouse mentee, Randy Florke, created a Conversation that connects Randy’s life story with the equality movement. This Conversation has been presented by Randy and Gwen in various settings, including prisons, universities, West Point Academy, the American Constitution Society, and numerous other public and private institutions, all in support of equality and diversity education. It also chronicles significant historical moments experienced by Randy and Gwen as congressional spouses. 

They continue to travel and share this Conversation upon request.

Throughout her life, Gwen has been dedicated to creating a more just and equitable world. Her work spans teaching in prisons, promoting criminal justice reform, and advocating for the LGBTQ movement. 

Gwen’s commitment to learning from and collaborating with others to drive meaningful change is her guiding principle. After spending decades in Mankato, Gwen now resides in St. Paul with her husband, Tim, and their two children, Hope and Gus. 

Fun facts about Tim Walz’s wife Gwen

The big picture: Walz, a lifelong educator, has been deeply involved in her husband’s political career and could bring that same dedication to his next role if he is elected as vice president alongside Kamala Harris in her bid for the White House.

– Lifelong Minnesotan, raised by educator and small business owner parents, according to her official biography page.

– Received degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and Minnesota State University in Mankato.

– Began her career teaching English in Nebraska, where she met her future husband, who was also a teacher at the same high school. They married in 1994.

– After returning to Minnesota, continued teaching while Tim coached football and Gwen Walz coached the cheer team, as noted by the Star Tribune.

– Worked as an administrator and coordinator in the Mankato Area Public Schools for over two decades, focusing on eliminating the achievement gap and promoting equity and access within education systems, according to her biography page.

– Advocates for “exemplary education in America’s prisons,” as stated in her biography.

As First Lady, Gwen Walz has focused on criminal justice reform and education policy, particularly in expanding educational opportunities for those in prison. Walz spearheaded a task force designed to reduce recidivism by integrating housing and educational opportunities for individuals upon their release.