Linda Wallenberg is a ninth through 12th grade English teacher at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in with a degree in English and Scandinavian studies. Wallenberg came to Eden Prairie in 1977 as an English and Swedish teacher and head gymnastics coach. She is currently in her 50th year of teaching in Minnesota.

“Wally,” as she is called by her students and colleagues, has experienced many changes over the last 50 years, from ditto machines to online learning and artificial intelligence. No matter the trends, Wallenberg’s commitment to her students has never faltered. Her enthusiasm for her subject matter is evident and contagious, whether teaching comma rules or Hamlet. Her students have gone on to be professional poets, professional hockey players and Olympic medalists. She is especially proud to have inspired countless students to become teachers — including several Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalists. To Wallenberg, teaching is a calling of love.

Wallenberg earned a master’s degree in English education from the University of Minnesota. She has taught in Canterbury, England, and for the past 44 summers has taught Swedish and served as the director of Concordia College’s Swedish Language Village. In addition to numerous teaching awards, Wallenberg has been named National Gymnastics Coach of the Year twice and awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. She was also awarded the Parr Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare.