‘On fire with excitement’: Tim Walz’s former students react to nomination

Imagine your teacher in the White House.

For Tim Walz's former students, the hypothetical could become real. And they're stoked.

The Minnesota governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate was a teacher in Nebraska and Minnesota before he ran for Congress in 2006. His time in the classroom features heavily on the campaign trail and in his governing. He has approved laws that provide universal school meals and add more money for education.

He and his wife, Gwen, taught at Mankato West high school, in a town south-west of the Minneapolis area.

There was high demand for his classes, said Jillian Hiscock, a former student at Mankato West. "It was hard to get into global geography. Who would have thought students would be fighting to get into global geography?

"If you want to talk about strict, you got to talk about Mrs Walz," she added. "I don't think Tim had a strict bone in his body."

Mankato West alumni have convened in a Slack channel to share memories and excitement, finding community in the surreality of their former teacher potentially becoming vice-president. The alums usually bring up both Walzes as memorable and impactful educators who left impressions on them for different reasons.