Excellent Educator: Fred Limmel Of Our Savior Lutheran School

EXCELSIOR, Minn. (WCCO) -- Fred Limmel has dedicated the last 27 years to Our Savior Lutheran School in Excelsior.

He plays a big role in the small school of only 90 students, and that's why he is this week's Excellent Educator.

"It is a family, and each one of these children is just like one of my own," said Limmel, describing the school's students.

He not only is he the principal, but he also teaches math and science and directs the entire music program.

"He's the choir director for men's, the ladies, and he directs the choirs for all the kids," said Lori Schnurr. "He wears a lot of hats, he holds it together for the church not just the school, but the church."

Limmel said his grandmother and mother were musically gifted and distilled a love of music in him.

"I think it's just a great expression of our faith," Limmel said, "and God tells us to make a joyful noise, not a quality noise, a joyful noise...music is the natural way to do that."

His devotion to the kids shows no matter what job he's doing.

"You can tell that he has a great connection with the kids, honestly he's made this school a really awesome place," said Mark Neumann, the pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church.

A special part of being at the same school for nearly 30 years is seeing the students become successful adults. Limmel has seen some students go on to become teachers themselves or lawyers, architects, and even an anesthesiologist.

He says it's an honor to help students become the best person they can be.