Board Members

Dr. Mike McCollor, President
Lori Borgeson, Vice President
Matt Bogenschultz, Trustee
Michael McKay, Treasurer
Zuki Ellis, Ex-Officio
John Horton, Trustee
Tom Koreltz, Secretary
Karen Odegard, Trustee
Stephanie Pignato, Trustee
Maggi Schiller, Trustee
 
 

Mike McCollor, Trustee

Committees

  • Executive Committee, Chair
  • Personnel Committee, Chair
  • Investment Committee
Dr. McCollor retired from the St. Paul Public Schools after serving over 34 years in the District. After teaching science at Battle Creek Middle School, he served as assistant principal at Battle Creek, Washington Technology Magnet Middle School, and Como Park High School. Most recently, he served 17 years as Principal at Washington Technology Magnet School, where he was honored as Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals.
Dr. McCollor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Science Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Science degree in Experiential Education from Mankato State University, and a Doctorate of Education degree from the University of Minnesota in Educational Policy and Administration. He has been an SPTRFA Trustee since January of 2000.
 
 

Lori Borgeson, Vice President

Lori Borgeson

Committees

  • Executive Committee
  • Personnel Committee
  • Investment Committee
  • St. Paul Teachers Pension PAC Chair
Lori Borgeson started her career in the business field, working in various payroll and human resource roles. After four years in business, she went back to school to earn her teaching license. She received her B.A. from Concordia College in Moorhead, and her M.A.T. from UW – River Falls. She has been teaching math at Johnson Senior High since 1997. She is also the math team coach and a building steward.
Lori was elected to the SPTRFA Board in January of 2012. During her tenure, she served as Treasurer until her recent election as Vice President. Additionally, Lori has been on two bargaining teams for SPFE and is a trustee of the Local 28 Scholarship Committee. She has been a member of the St. Paul Teachers Pension PAC, formerly Committee of Nine, since 1999, serving as its Secretary until she was elected as its Chair in January 2020.
 
 

Matt Bogenschultz

Committees

  • Executive Committee
  • Investment Committee
Matt Bogenschultz earned his B.A. in Economics, International Relations, and German at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also received an M.A. in German Literature from UW-Madison. He has completed the coursework for an M.ED in Second Languages and Cultures from the University of Minnesota.
Matt teaches English Learners, reading and writing. He has served as the PAC chair since 2006. During his first tenure on eight years the Committee of Nine, he served as secretary and treasurer. Matt has been a Board member since 1999. In 2006, he was appointed by the Board as St. Paul Teachers Pension PAC Chair.
 
 

John Horton, Trustee

Committees

  • Investment Committee
  • Annuities & Refunds
  • Audit
John Horton is a proud graduate of St. Paul Public Schools. He holds a BS and a MEd from the University of Minnesota in Elementary Education. He holds a MEd from the University of Wisconsin River Falls in Montessori Education. John has been a Lower Elementary guide at J.J. Hill Montessori School in Saint Paul, Minnesota since 2014.
Prior to that work, he was an elementary teacher in the Anoka Hennepin School district. Among John’s work as a union steward and other district positions, he is a professor in the Teacher Education Program at the University of Wisconsin River Falls Montessori Program. He has been twice named a Minnesota Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist. He holds International Baccalaureate Level I and III accreditation and is AMS Credentialed. He is excited to work on behalf of the Saint Paul community.
 
 

Tom Koreltz, Secretary

Tom Koreltz

Committees

  • Personnel Committee
  • Investment Committee
  • Annuities & Refunds, Chair
Tom is a 1989 graduate of Harding High School and has been working as a teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools since 1993. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Iowa State University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Cloud State University.
Tom is highly motivated to protect the current defined benefit pension program for current retirees and enhance the pension for active members. He is honored to serve on the Board of Trustees as he believes in the mission of SPTRFA.
 
 

Michael McKay, Treasurer

Committees

  • Executive Committee
  • Personnel Committee
  • Investment Committee
  • Audit
Mike has been teaching in the Saint Paul Schools for over 20 years and is currently teaching Math at Highland Park Senior High. He has a long association with the district having been a student at St. Anthony Park, Murray Junior High, and Como Park Senior High.
Mike holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and worked in the private sector for a time before returning to the Saint Paul District while earning his Masters in Education from the University of Saint Thomas. Mike is currently a member of the board of trustees of the Falcon Heights Fire Department Retirement Fund and has previously served as Treasurer of the Fund. He has been a member of the Fire Department since 2000. He was elected to the board in 2016 and is honored to represent both the present and future retirees of the Saint Paul School District.
 
 

Zuki Ellis, Ex-Officio

Committees

  • Investment Committee
Zuki Ellis joined the SPPS Board of Education in 2016. She and her husband, Greg, live in the Midway area with their three sons, the youngest of whom attends Saint Paul Public Schools. A longtime supporter of SPPS, Zuki attended and graduated from Webster Magnet and Highland Park Middle & Senior High Schools. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading, and discovering the world through the eyes of her youngest son.
In addition to serving as a member of the Board, Zuki is a Parent Trainer with the National Parent Teacher Home Visits program. She believes the pressing concerns for the upcoming year are Special Education, parent understanding of the process, partnerships that exist in the best interests of our students, and the legal and moral responsibilities to support our students. She is also excited for SEAB and the Board to work together on district-wide issues. As a lifelong citizen of Saint Paul, she wants to give back, support, challenge, fight for, and lead the community that has helped to raise and shape her life, as well as the lives of all the students of the district.
 
 

Karen Odegard, Trustee

Odegard

Committees
  • Audit Committee, Chair
  • Investment Committee
In 1979, Karen began her career with SPPS as a music teacher. From the University of Minnesota, she received a B.S. in Music Education (K-12). Her education continued at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls: M.A. in Reading K-12 and another degree in Elementary Education, 1-6. She also attended The Ohio State University and received certification in Reading Recovery® as a Teacher Leader. Karen had a variety of roles including music teacher, primary teacher, and teacher on special assignment: Reading Recovery teacher leader, District Title I team member, and Literacy coach
Karen’s involvement in the SPFT included building steward, Secretary on the Executive Board, and co-leader for the Reading Collaborative. In 2007 SPFT chose Karen as the recipient of the Mary McGough Distinguished Service Award. Karen has a certificate on Governance (2007) and a certificate on Investments (2008) issued by the National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR).
 
 

Stephanie Pignato, Trustee

Committees

  • Executive Committee
  • Investment Committee, Chair
  • Audit Committee
  • Board Appointee to St. Paul Teachers’ Pension PAC
I have been with the St. Paul Public School District for over 30 years. I am a classroom teacher at Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet. I graduated from Harding High School, The University of Wisconsin- River Falls, and Hamline University.
I am a building steward and proudly serve as a Trustee for St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund.
 
 

Maggi Schiller, Trustee

Committees

  • Investment Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Audit Committee
As a retiree, I am deeply committed to protecting and improving our pension benefits. I recently retired, after teaching mathematics and statistics 28 years in St. Paul. I also am a tax and small business accounting professional enrolled to practice before the IRS since 1986.
In my life as a tax professional, I have gained invaluable knowledge about retirement options, funding, taxation. I have become fiercely supportive of defined benefit pension plans like ours. My extensive experience puts me in a unique position to understand the personal impact of plan changes.