Meet Curt
Quick Facts...
Father. Executive. Board President. Lifelong Learner.
For over three decades, I've built a career helping organizations solve complex governance, financial, technology, and security challenges. Those same principles have guided my service on the Forest Lake School Board.
- Forest Lake Area resident since 2009
- Married to my wife, Beth, for 25 years
- Father of three Forest Lake graduates and students
- Board President, Forest Lake Area Schools (ISD 831)
- Director, Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916
- Chief Information Security Officer
- MBA, M.S. Cybersecurity & Information Assurance, B.S. Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
- 20+ years of executive leadership experience
- Small business owner and technology entrepreneur
Whether serving in the boardroom or the community, my priorities remain the same: responsible governance, fiscal stewardship, transparency, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.
My Story...
I never planned to run for public office.
Like many parents, my involvement with Forest Lake Area Schools began by simply showing up. My wife, Beth, and I chose to make Forest Lake our home in 2009 because we believed it was the kind of community where we wanted to raise our family. This October, we'll celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and together we've watched our three children grow through our schools. Today, Natalie and Hunter are proud graduates of Forest Lake Area High School, and Blake is entering his junior year. Along the way we've attended concerts, athletic events, parent conferences, and graduation ceremonies. We've celebrated successes, worked through challenges, and experienced firsthand just how important our schools are to the future of our community.
As our family became more involved, so did I. Long before serving on the school board, I volunteered as a youth coach, worked with families and district staff on 504 plans and IEPs, participated on district committees, contributed to policy discussions, served on a levy committee, and attended countless board meetings. I wasn't looking for public office. I simply wanted to understand how decisions were being made and how I could help make our schools even stronger.
Professionally, I serve as the Chief Information Security Officer for a financial services company. Over the past two decades, I've held executive leadership roles in healthcare, aviation, retail, technology, and financial services, helping organizations strengthen governance, manage risk, improve accountability, and make thoughtful decisions in complex environments. Every day I work with executive teams and boards of directors to balance competing priorities, protect critical resources, and build trust through transparency and sound leadership. Those same principles have guided my service on the Forest Lake School Board.
My educational journey reflects another value that's important to me: lifelong learning. I began my studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics before pursuing opportunities in the technology industry. While building my career, I continued my education, earning a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, followed by a Master of Business Administration. I also maintain professional certifications, including CISSP, CISM, and CRISC, because I believe effective leaders should never stop learning or challenging themselves to grow.
When I first ran for the school board, I promised to strengthen governance, improve transparency, restore fiscal responsibility, and keep our focus where it belongs: preparing every student for success. During my first term, including my service as Board President, we've made meaningful progress in each of those areas. Working alongside my fellow board members and district leadership, we've strengthened governance, modernized board policies, restored the district's financial health, increased transparency, and remained focused on student achievement. While there is always more work to do, I'm proud of what we've accomplished together.
In addition to serving Forest Lake Area Schools, I also serve on the Board of Directors for Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916, where I work with neighboring districts to support students with diverse educational needs across the northeast metro. That experience has broadened my perspective and reinforced my belief that collaboration and responsible leadership lead to better outcomes for students.
Public service is a responsibility I don't take lightly. Whether I'm leading an executive team, serving on a board of directors, or representing our community on the school board, my approach is the same: listen first, ask thoughtful questions, make decisions based on facts, and remain accountable for the results.
It has been an honor to serve the Forest Lake community, and I'm grateful for the trust you've placed in me. Together we've made meaningful progress, and I believe our best work is still ahead. I respectfully ask for your support as we continue building a district that reflects our community's values, prepares every student for success, and earns the confidence of the families and taxpayers it serves.
- Curt Rebelein, Junior, MBA, MS
