Hall of Fame - Class of 2016
Thomas Paul
Thomas Paul’s first connection to the school district was as a parent. Tom and his wife, Marie, have lived in Forest Lake for more than 50 years and have raised four daughters, who all graduated from Forest Lake Area High School. As the connection between his family and the school district grew, Tom became even more involved by serving on the Forest Lake School Board from 1983 to 1989. Many important changes took place during his time on the board, and he earned the respect of his peers for his dedication, thoughtful approach and strong vision for the district. Tom was actively involved as a volunteer coach, eventually founding the Lakes Area Volleyball program in 1991, where he was head coach for more than six years. His teams were ranked in the top 10 every one of those six years. Eight years ago, when the Forest Lake Area Schools needed leadership for a Facilities Task Force to assess the state of its buildings, Tom once again volunteered his time. The diligent work of this task force, and the one that followed, eventually resulted in passage of the most recent school facilities bond. This made possible the Restructuring Opportunities for Success project that is currently underway in our district. He has also served on the United Way Board, the Forest Lake Town Board and the Forest Lake Jaycees, and was a six-year member of the Minnesota National Guard. In 2015, Tom volunteered as a guardian for WWII veterans, escorting an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Tom has made a lasting impact on the Forest Lake community thanks to his extensive volunteerism..
LeeAnn Weigt
LeeAnn Weigt, a 1976 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School, continues to give back to the city and school district that gave to her. Ten years ago, in response to the Forest Lake School District strategic plan goals, community leaders began working on a strong, non-profit foundation that would provide the students and teachers of the Forest Lake school district with additional financial support for special projects and important needs that the school district was unable to furnish. LeeAnn is a strong supporter of these goals and has served on the TEFFLA board for the past three years. TEFFLA, the Education Foundation of the Forest Lake Area has awarded grants in the amount of $56,000 since 2011, impacting over 17,000 students, educators, and community members. As a business owner she has been a part of supporting many civic and youth activities, including the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau and Family Pathways, as well as the Forest Lake Safety Camp, and LakeFest. She also serves as a member of the Forest Lake Rotary and the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce, and has worked on the Business Retention and Expansion projects for both Forest Lake and Columbus.
LeeAnn is a model for showing community support for students and families through both her own personal involvement and that of her company.
Thomas Paul’s first connection to the school district was as a parent. Tom and his wife, Marie, have lived in Forest Lake for more than 50 years and have raised four daughters, who all graduated from Forest Lake Area High School. As the connection between his family and the school district grew, Tom became even more involved by serving on the Forest Lake School Board from 1983 to 1989. Many important changes took place during his time on the board, and he earned the respect of his peers for his dedication, thoughtful approach and strong vision for the district. Tom was actively involved as a volunteer coach, eventually founding the Lakes Area Volleyball program in 1991, where he was head coach for more than six years. His teams were ranked in the top 10 every one of those six years. Eight years ago, when the Forest Lake Area Schools needed leadership for a Facilities Task Force to assess the state of its buildings, Tom once again volunteered his time. The diligent work of this task force, and the one that followed, eventually resulted in passage of the most recent school facilities bond. This made possible the Restructuring Opportunities for Success project that is currently underway in our district. He has also served on the United Way Board, the Forest Lake Town Board and the Forest Lake Jaycees, and was a six-year member of the Minnesota National Guard. In 2015, Tom volunteered as a guardian for WWII veterans, escorting an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Tom has made a lasting impact on the Forest Lake community thanks to his extensive volunteerism..
LeeAnn Weigt
LeeAnn Weigt, a 1976 graduate of Forest Lake Area High School, continues to give back to the city and school district that gave to her. Ten years ago, in response to the Forest Lake School District strategic plan goals, community leaders began working on a strong, non-profit foundation that would provide the students and teachers of the Forest Lake school district with additional financial support for special projects and important needs that the school district was unable to furnish. LeeAnn is a strong supporter of these goals and has served on the TEFFLA board for the past three years. TEFFLA, the Education Foundation of the Forest Lake Area has awarded grants in the amount of $56,000 since 2011, impacting over 17,000 students, educators, and community members. As a business owner she has been a part of supporting many civic and youth activities, including the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau and Family Pathways, as well as the Forest Lake Safety Camp, and LakeFest. She also serves as a member of the Forest Lake Rotary and the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce, and has worked on the Business Retention and Expansion projects for both Forest Lake and Columbus.
LeeAnn is a model for showing community support for students and families through both her own personal involvement and that of her company.