Gayle Bortnem and Duane Alm have been elected to the Aberdeen School Board. 

Two three-year seats were up for grabs in Tuesday's three-person race.

Bortnem is a newcomer to the school board, while Alm is currently serving his 20th year.

Bortnem, 70, is a retired associate professor of education at Northern State University. On Facebook Tuesday evening, she asked friends to return her campaign signs to her yard. That turned into an election watch party, with Bortnem and supporters streaming the secretary of state's website on her TV. 

"I'm very excited. I was so happy," she said.

Before teaching at the university level, Bortnem started her own preschool in her home in her late 20s. She went on to teach at Roncalli for 10 years before moving to the collegiate level, where she taught future principals.

Her background in education will help her on the school board, Bortnem said. As a professor of education, overseeing student teachers has allowed her to know what is going on in school classrooms, she said. 

Bortnem hopes to focus on supporting both educators and administrators. The school system needs better communication in an effort to share its accomplishments and bring more students into school, she said. 

She emphasized that the students come from different backgrounds and it is important to ensure that no one gets left behind. Children are the future, and it is important to help those who have fewer resources, she said.

Alm, 85, is a retired teacher and administrator. He retired from C.C. Lee Elementary School, where he was principal for 17 years. Overall, he has been with the Aberdeen School District for 57 years, he said. 

Alm said he is grateful to have been elected to the school board again. He said he has promoted student achievement during his time on the board and, in recent years, has increased his interaction with state lawmakers.

He said he hopes to continue to work for the benefit of all students. 

"I’m humbled and grateful to be re-elected to the Aberdeen School Board. I just thank all the voters who supported me," Alm said.