Lindvahl Appointed to State Board of Education

First, Citizen of the Year, now, appointment to a state government position.

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed local resident Craig Lindvahl to the Illinois State Board of Education. The appointment does require Illinois Senate confirmation.

The 57-year-old Lindvahl is the Executive Director of the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, an organization that helps develop future leaders in business and in life. He oversees the CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program, and he speaks across the country about CEO, millenials and economic development.

Lindvahl, who was recently named the 2015 Effingham Citizen of the Year, worked as an educator for more than 30 years. He is an award-winning educator earning the prestigious Milken National Educator Award, and has twice been a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Lindvahl said he will support utilization of available resources so that as many Illinois students as possible will have the opportunity to do their best.

Lindvahl spent 34 years in the classrooms of the Teutopolis District 50 Schools. He taught music, band, television production in a co-operative venture with Effingham Unit 40 schools, and entrepreneurship. He led a group of students to the Marshall Islands to produce a student-led documentary about the country and culture. The video was distributed to 5,000 schools through the Peace Corps.

Lindvahl is also an award-winning filmmaker, having earned 12 Mid-America Emmy Awards and 11 Telly Awards for his writing, producing, camera work and editing. His projects have given him the opportunity to work with students from more than 25 countries. He owns Callan Films, which produces documentaries and corporate projects.