Five years ago, Laurie Kessler began her work as Coordinator of the Education Program at Viterbo with more experience than the traditional applicant. Kessler had just wrapped up her 38th year at Holmen High School. Originally a music teacher, Kessler eventually earned her master’s degree and became the school’s counselor. After year 38, she decided to retire from teaching, until a friend referred her to an opening at Viterbo University. Within a week of Holmen students leaving for the summer, she was setting up her new office.
Kessler grew up on a farm in a small town 90 miles south of La Crosse. “In my town, nobody went to college,” Kessler shared. A high school music teacher of hers brought her to the Dorian Music Festival at Luther College where Kessler sang a solo. What she thought was just another performance opportunity ended up earning her a scholarship. “I owe (my teacher) a great gratitude,” she said.
After studying music education at Luther College, Kessler found a job at Holmen High School. After having children of her own, she decided to step away from the busyness of teaching music in pursuit of a different education-oriented career. She loved getting to know all her students individually, eventually rerouting to counseling. While teaching music, Kessler worked on earning her master’s degree from Winona State University. Afterwards, she became the school’s guidance counselor.
“We started with 400 kids in the high school, we ended with 400 kids on my case load,” Kessler shared. Holmen was growing, and after 38 years, she decided it was time to retire. However, the Education Program Coordinator position at Viterbo caught her eye. “I grew up Catholic,” Kessler shared, adding, “My family was very mission and service oriented.” In addition to these qualities, she also saw a unique opportunity to help uplift future educators. “I know the damage a bad teacher can do and how important a good teacher is,” she said.
After five years at Viterbo, Kessler is retiring to spend more time with her family. “My husband’s been retired for eight, nine years and we’re ready,” she proclaimed. She hopes to visit her two daughters in New York more often. She also intends on spending time with her dad and volunteering at the new Holmen Community Center, a project she has been a part of since 2006.
Kessler said she will miss the job, but knows it is left in good hands. “I think the education program is going to fly,” she shared, citing how “exciting and fun” the future of the program looks. The Lumen wishes Laurie Kessler and her family the best of luck as she moves on from Viterbo into her exciting and fun retirement.
