Who is Tim Waltz’s wife Gwen Waltz?

televisionhe Democratic National Convention The event kicks off in Chicago on Monday Illinois Delegation Breakfastwhich featured a surprise speaker: Gwen Waltz, the wife of Minnesota Governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Waltz.

While speaking to delegates, lawmakers and reporters, Gwen Waltz shared that she and her husband met while teaching at the same school, and that she and her family loved celebrating the New Year in Chicago on New Year’s Eve. PoliticoShe also expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced her candidacy earlier this month. She chose Tim Waltz as her running mate Run in the 2024 presidential election.

“I can’t think of a better team than Kamara and Tim,” Gwen explain at breakfast. “They want to give everyone a chance to achieve the American dream. Isn’t that what we all want?”

Tim Waltz introduced his wife when he joined the presidential race: “I can’t wait for all of you and the American people to get to know my amazing wife, Gwen, a 29-year public school educator.” explain At a rally in Philadelphia earlier this month. “Never underestimate a teacher.”

Here’s what you need to know about Gwen Waltz.

She is a teacher

Gwen Walz, 58 born Glencoe, Minnesota. Her parents were teachers and small business owners, and she has three sisters. She earned degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University before moving to Nebraska, where she followed in her parents’ footsteps and began teaching.

While teaching in high school There, she met Tim Waltz, a teacher at the same school. Their first date was to a movie, and Gwen later told Minnesota Star forum She rejected his kiss, prompting her now-husband to respond: “That’s OK, but you should know I’m going to marry you.” They married in 1994.

They later moved back to Minnesota and began working at Mankato West High School. She teaches English. He teaches sociology.

The Waltzes have two children: Hope, 23, and Gus, 17. Outspoken Telling how they battled infertility. criticize The Republican-led effort aims to cut reproductive health care, including the following fertility treatments: In vitro fertilization (In vitro fertilization).

Read more: Tim Walz’s Position

She is an advocate for educational opportunities in prisons

Gwen Waltz has been a vocal supporter of increasing educational opportunities for prisoners. She has visited prisons and worked with the Bard Prison Project, which aims to provide inmates in prison with opportunities to receive a college education.

“She was a dedicated Midwestern public school teacher who approached education without bias or assumptions about what kind of students would achieve, and who had a genuine optimism for all types of students,” Max Kenner, founder of the Bard Prison Initiative, told reporters. USA Today“She also felt deeply frustrated, even disappointed, that we as a country have failed to create real educational opportunities, especially college opportunities, for so many people.”

She plays a role alongside her husband’s political career.

Gwen Walz previously explain She and her husband have “always worked as partners,” describing themselves as each other’s “closest advisors.” She plays an important role as a political spouse — she is the first Minnesota governor’s spouse to have her own office in the state Capitol, according to Star forumShe even served as a substitute for her husband –New York time She reportedly took over as a speaker at a congressional campaign fundraiser in 2006 after her husband, Tim Waltz, became ill with laryngitis.