Will and Janet Williams have been involved in One91 for most of their lives.

They were classmates who graduated in the second class of Burnsville High School in 1958.

They attended Savage elementary for eight years and then had two years of high school in Shakopee because District 191 had no high school at that time. Once Burnsville High School opened, Janet and Will were among student leaders who helped start up the school by selecting the mascot, school song, colors and more. Janet was the class valedictorian and Will was the first homecoming king.

“We are proud graduates of BHS and strong supporters of public education,” they say. “Whether you have children attending District 191, graduates or not, every resident should support our great schools and even consider a donation to Foundation 191 to enhance the wonderful things that our teachers do.”

They each went to college and had careers – he was a math teacher in St. Paul and she was  an administrator in the Scott County Library system – and are now retired.

They’ve continued living in the district. Their three sons and a granddaughter have graduated from Burnsville High School, where another granddaughter is in the Class of 2019.

Janet was elected to the Savage City Council in 2004, then was elected as the first female mayor of the city in 2007 and has served ever since.

Will is a founding member – and continues to serve – on the Board of Foundation 191, the not-for-profit organization that began in 2005 to provide innovative learning opportunities in District 191. He is also a volunteer math tutor at the Savage Public Library.

Their families have lived in the area for many decades, and Will and Janet are known as local historians who are asked to speak to classes and civic groups. They were involved in starting up the Dan Patch Historical Society. Both were previously selected for the Burnsville High School Hall of Fame. See this year’s list of Hall of Fame inductees.