Claire Rohweder, the new Upper School Assistant, has engaged in a broad variety of activities outside of work ranging from Nordic skiing to volunteering her time for research. Born and raised in St. Paul Minnesota, and having lived in Minnesota ever since, Rohweder has developed a passion for educating and various outdoor activities.

With nine years under her belt in the field of education, Rohweder wanted to continue in that field at SPA. “I love working in education. I was looking for a fresh start and, it [SPA] almost feels like you’re in a college. The students are so respectful, and the teachers give students a chance to spread their wings and be who they are with common areas and flexible class periods. It’s just a really warm and welcoming place to learn,” Rohweder said.

When it comes to time outside of work, Rohweder continues a particular activity she enjoyed from a young age, “One of my favorite things to do is cross country skiing. I’ve been doing it since high school. I enjoy the challenge of seeing how far I can push myself.”

Rohweder also enjoys an activity she picked up more recently, “I’m also a Minnesota Master Naturalist, which basically means I am certified through the University of Minnesota to volunteer at nature centers…I’ve done it for six or seven years…One of my favorite things is doing the frog and toad call survey every year to monitor the water quality. So I’ve learned to identify frogs and toads by their sound, but not necessarily by how they look.,” Rohweder said.

Her interest in becoming a Minnesota Master Naturalist was influenced by a couple of factors, “My husband is a wildlife biologist and we’ve always just really loved camping and being outside together. He said, ‘Hey, let’s go do this and see if we can be citizen scientists.’, and we’ve enjoyed doing that together ever since.”

As Rohweder acclimates to the new working environment, she is looking forward to meeting members of the community and learning more about them.