For seven years, Spencer Dahl has been working for the Albert Lea School District as a groundskeeper during summers, but this fall he won’t be found mowing Hammer Field.

Dahl will leave on Aug. 22 for Bemidji State University in hopes of becoming a teacher in secondary education.

“I want to be a teacher because I get along well with kids,” said Dahl. “I’m practically still a kid myself; I love to play around.”

According to Dahl’s parents, he has been a positive role model for his little brother, Carter, and will make a great school teacher.

To express his strong faith and prepare himself for teaching after college, he teaches confirmation and Sunday school classes at Grace Lutheran Church.

“Church is a place where I feel comfortable and accepted,” said Dahl. “I enjoy watching kids accomplish things and smile.”

He has volunteered at the Family Y and coached basketball, soccer and was even named the Youth Citizen of the Year in 2006. Dahl also job-shadowed a Hawthorne Elementary School gym teacher, coached Off The Wall Soccer at the arena and helped announce and keep score at boys’ and girls’ soccer and basketball games, keeping in mind that it would help him gain experience with different groups of students.

“I love being a part of the team behind the scenes after being on the team,” said Dahl. “I’m just observing and soaking everything in for when I coach myself.”

Dahl graduated in 2006 from Albert Lea High School and was active in a variety of extracurricular activities. He played as a midfielder on the soccer team, played basketball for two years, then coached it, was a part of the yearbook staff and was in show choir.

After graduation he decided to stay in Albert Lea to attend Riverland Community College.

“It was cheaper to stay in town, and there was less pressure than if I were to go to a bigger college out of town,” said Dahl. “I also love spending time with my family, and I got that by staying for a couple years.”

Outside of family time and volunteering, Dahl has maintained the same full-time job for seven years as an Albert Lea School District groundskeeper.

Every morning he wakes up and makes his way to the fieldhouse where he begins his work on his John Deere lawnmower.

“I’m motivated each morning by the fact that what I do is in the public eye, everyone sees it,” said Dahl. “Whether people know who did it or not, it is something I can be proud of.”

Since he has been working for the school for so long he feels he has taken up a leadership role and gets along with everyone well. According to him, one in particular has helped him a great deal.

“Bob Hamberg has done a lot for my self-esteem,” said Dahl. “But everyone has helped me loosen up and keep casual.”

Although, Dahl is leaving in less than a month he admits he wouldn’t mind coming back to Albert Lea and teaching.

“I’m excited to teach,” said Dahl. “I’ve enjoyed being a role model for my brother and his friends.”