Erwin continues a family tradition of service

LAUREL — Carol Erwin learned at an early age that people have to get involved if they care about their community.

Erwin is doing just that.

She was elected in January as the Laurel Concord Coleridge School Board President.

She follows her Mother’s footsteps as a school board member.

“It means a lot to me,” Erwin said.

She grew up in Prague, the hometown of Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda. Her mother was on the school board there for most of the time that Erwin was in school.

Erwin began working on the school board in 2015 when she replaced Ryan Van Cleave on the board.

She was then elected in 2016 and again in 2020.

“I felt like I have a background in education. I could contribute. The school board is something that I could help with. There are good people on the board,’’ she said. “Sometimes administrators talk in education terms and there are times I can explain things and help out.’’

Erwin teaches family and consumer sciences courses at Wayne State College. She is certified in FCS by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Before coming to WSC, Erwin taught FCS grades 7-12 in Bassett, Stuart, Coleridge, Laurel and Randolph.

She is the treasurer of AAFCS (serves as the membership chair for Nebraska). She is a member of Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers of Nebraska and the Association for Career and Technical Education. Erwin was recognized by them as FCS teacher of the year in 2004 and again in 2013. She is also a member of the National Association of Teacher Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences.

She earned her M.E. in Curriculum and Instruction, 2005 at Doane College; B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education (endorsement in Diversified Occupations and Coaching), 1999 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned her Ph.D. in education.

Erwin’s teaching interests include online teaching and learning, nutrition and food classes in family and consumer science (FCS) and working with FCS teacher education students. Her research interests include adult education and lifelong learning.

She has been pleased with the accomplishments the LCC Board has made, but was disappointed when school patrons voted against a school facility improvement bond last fall.

“I feel we need to move forward,’’ she said.

Erwin suggested looking at things and trying the bond again.

“It is time to move forward with that building project,’’ she said. “It is hard because it costs a lot of money.’’

Erwin said she feels the LCC administrators and teachers and staff working with students are good and care about students.

“They are a good group to work with,’’ she said. “We have a strong group of administrators. Our superintendent does a good job planning and working with everyone. I feel we have a good group on the board as we move forward. We need to figure out how to do this job the best that we can. There are neat things that we can do, but we have to work within the constraints that we have.’’

Erwin says she has a passion for education.

“I have worked to bring experience to the board. I look forward to working with all community members,’’ she said. “Education is the foundation of our society. It plants the seeds for the future and all they do. In their lives they have a strong place for all these things to happen with an education.’’

She said if school board service is appealing to people then they should consider it.

“You don’t have to have children to be involved with the school board,’’ she said. “Anyone who cares about education can run for school board and contribute to prepare for the future and contribute to this area.’’

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