Meet Carole Sand

I grew up in Rockford, Illinois and moved to Decorah to attend Luther College. I married a "townie," Dan Sand, a carpenter (now retired) who specialized in restoring houses and porches. We lived in Arizona for 10 years where I attended the University of Arizona and taught all subjects in 5th grade for five years in a multi-cultural school. We returned in 1993 to settle in Decorah and raise our sons here because we value this community as a family-oriented town with excellent schools.

Our two sons, Erik and Karl, thrived in Decorah schools and now live in Montana. One is a therapist in a high school, the other a civil engineer. Their passions are whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, and skiing; they have been kind enough to include their parents in their adventures.

I love teaching and I encourage young people to consider a career working in education. I retired after the 2022-23 school year, proudly serving as a classroom teacher for 31 years.

I taught 3rd-5th grade for 6 years in Tucson, Arizona and Los Alamos, New Mexico. After moving back to the Midwest, I taught 5th grade and the TAG program at North Winneshiek School for 19 years and the Extended Learning Program at Decorah Middle School for 9 years.

At both North Winn and Decorah, I appreciated the values of community spirit, challenging students, and meeting the diverse needs of learners. I saw first-hand in both districts how important it is to have dedicated teachers and caring parents working together.