Both of her parents were teachers and two of her siblings are educators, so it's no surprise that Tami Martin is not only a teacher, but the new principal at Crosslake Community School.
She's been a teacher for 22 years in Bemidji and Chisago Lake. Coming back to the lake country is really like coming home for this woman who grew up in Brainerd.
She's the youngest of five Hansens. Older brother Randy is principal at Pequot Lakes Middle School. Sister Sherie is a registered nurse and lives in Mounds View. Kristi lives in Rochester where she is a health educator. Rick owns a printing company in Fridley.
"It never was a question of would we go to college," Tami said. "It was, where would we go to college?"
She married Kurt Martin in June and now lives in Brainerd. She was looking for a teaching job, but the cutbacks in Crosby-Ironton and Brainerd didn't make job prospects look too hopeful. Then she learned about the opening for a principal at Crosslake Community School.
"I talked it over with Randy," Tami said. "He said I was qualified and I should go for it. It had been 17 years since I've had an interview, but it went well and Harlan Young, board chairman, offered me the job and here I am."
As a fifth-grade teacher in Chisago Lake, Tami was often on the other side of the table, interviewing new teachers, serving on committees and being the data manager.
"I owe a big thank you to (former principal) Amy LaBarre for where she has brought this school," Tami said. "Now I can build on her hard work. All the i's were dotted and the t's crossed."
Enrollment at Crosslake is up from last year, she said. This year, 115 students are registered and will start school Tuesday, Sept. 2. The school has a ratio of 19 students to a teacher.
"Obviously, small class size is beneficial to students," Tami said. "The students have performed above the state average on the AYP (adequate yearly progress) tests in reading and math. Class size is important."
Tami has only had a few weeks to become acquainted with the school and its staff. She said she's learning a lot, rapidly.
There are plans for the school to become more environmentally friendly through a partnership with Happy Dancing Turtle of Pine River. Plans include community projects. She said this will be a good partnership for the students and the school.
Tami said she finds the setup of a charter school very exciting.
"I'm accountable to the board and the teachers are accountable to me," she said.
The charter school is licensed by the state of Minnesota. The school board includes four teachers and four members from the community.
There will be two new teachers this fall. Catering will be from Manhattan Beach Lodge and there will be two bus routes. As principal, Tami is the health and safety officer, the transportation manager, the business manager and the curriculum director.
"As principal, I wear many hats, and they are all beautiful and colorful," she said.
Tami plans to work with Pequot Lakes School to help the Crosslake students transition to the high school. That shouldn't be a problem as she plans to keep in close contact with brother Randy.
"On my application I put him down as my administration coach," she said. "I want to do the best job I can."
This will be an exciting year for Tami. Besides a new job, there are other changes for this busy lady. Her son, Michael, will be a freshman at Bemidji State University. And she'll be farther from her daughter, Caitlin Gryte, and 9-month-old granddaughter, Mallory, who live in Vadnais Heights.
This is a lady who likes challenges and she's looking forward to a busy year at Crosslake Community School.
