Expert storyteller. Tireless advocate. Avid moviegoer.

​The son of military parents, Dirk was born in Oklahoma, and after six weeks moved to Okinawa, Japan. From there, he moved to Florida, to Pennsylvania, back to Florida and then to South Dakota--spending a significant amount of time in New Orleans along the way. These early moves helped him learn to be adaptable and open to new experiences.

Growing up, Dirk and his siblings spent countless hours playing outside with the other neighborhood kids. They would often dream up money-making schemes, like the time they created a 50-cent nature walk in the woods, or jump waves in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With the family dog Zack (named after the Power Ranger), the Tedmon kids would embark on epic quests and harrowing adventures.

In high school, you could often find Dirk on the stage or in the choir room, and in college, you’d catch him at campus clubs and campaigns fighting for progressive values. Today, when not at the theater watching the latest movies, Dirk seeks out adventure with his husband Todd and helps tell the story of Minneapolis Public Schools...just as he did when serving in the Obama administration.
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Dirk can be pretty silly sometimes--but Todd keeps him in line--and he looks forward to discovering new worlds with a child while teaching them to care about others.