Wife and husband Erika and Derek Lieser are pictured together. Each received an independent grant for separate projects at New Ulm Public Schools, awarded in 2026 and 2022 respectively.   (Photo courtesy of the Lieser family.)

​NEW ULM — New Ulm Public Schools is pursuing two separate projects funded through independent grants awarded in different years to husband and wife educators Derek and Erika Lieser.

Derek Lieser received his grant in 2022, supporting the creation of a data‒driven physical education lab at New Ulm High School. 

Erika Lieser received her grant this year, funding new equipment for the Gross Motor STEM Activities Room at Washington Learning Center.

In 2022, high school physical education teacher and head football coach Derek Lieser secured funding for the “P.E. Lab for Analytics, Data, and Technical Equipment,” a project designed to modernize the weight room and introduce data‒driven training tools for both physical education students and athletes. 

The grant allowed the school to purchase nine Apple iPads, one for each power rack, along with VMaxPro velocity‒based training devices for every station. 

The project also included a wall‒mounted display, a DASHR laser timing system for speed and agility testing, and a three‒year district commitment to TeamBuildr training software.

The technology changed how students interacted with their workouts. Instead of relying on handwritten logs or estimates, students viewed their assigned workouts on iPads, entered their numbers directly into the software, and received immediate feedback on their progress. 

TeamBuildr automatically calculated percentages based on each student’s one‒rep max, ensuring they trained at appropriate intensities. Lieser said the system helped students understand how to progress safely and effectively.

“Students who trained with intent saw significant growth, not just in strength, speed and power, but in their motivation to keep improving,” he said.

The data also allowed teachers and coaches to monitor trends, identify areas of need, and adjust programming based on real‒time information. Derek Lieser said the visual progress reports were especially impactful for students who benefited from seeing their improvements charted over time. 

He shared an example of a student whose report showed substantial gains across three core lifts: the barbell bench press, hexbar deadlift, and barbell back squat. 

The student’s progress, Derek Lieser said, reflected consistent effort and the value of having accurate data to guide training decisions.

The lab also created opportunities for alumni engagement. Lieser highlighted the example of 2022 graduate Josh Wenninger, who pursued exercise science at Bethany Lutheran College after suffering a significant injury before his senior basketball season.

Wenninger returned to New Ulm High School this fall as part of his senior seminar project, assisting the football program once a week and using force plates from BLC to help athletes track performance metrics. 

Derek Lieser said Wenninger’s involvement demonstrated the long‒term impact of the school’s emphasis on data‒driven training and the value of former students returning to support current athletes.

Despite the success of the P.E. Lab, future expansion is uncertain. District budget reductions last year included the elimination of the strength and conditioning coaching position, placing additional constraints on the program.

Derek Lieser said he hopes the district can continue investing in technology and equipment, but for now, additions are on hold.

While Derek’Lieser’s project focused on high school athletes and data analytics, Erika Lieser’s grant this year supports a very different age group and set of needs. 

As a preschool teacher at Washington Learning Center, she received an ISD 88 Foundation grant to expand the school’s Gross Motor STEM Activities Room, a space designed to help young learners strengthen large muscle groups while engaging in early STEM exploration.

The grant will provide giant foam dinosaur blocks, a large‒motor climbing set, oversized foam blocks for building ball‒rolling tracks, and motorized air‒tube ball systems that allow children to send balls through pipe structures.

Erika Lieser said the project responds to a trend she and other staff have observed in recent years. 

“We’re seeing more children entering preschool without strong large‒muscle coordination,” she said. “If students can’t control their big movements, we can’t expect them to do the small‒muscle tasks like cutting, writing or coloring.”

The Gross Motor STEM Activities Room blends physical movement with problem‒solving, collaboration, and experimentation. 

Students work together to design structures, test ideas and adjust their plans based on what works and what doesn’t. 

The activities require children to lift, carry, balance, and manipulate large materials, strengthening their core muscles and coordination while also introducing them to basic engineering concepts.

Erika Lieser said the room’s existing materials already encourage teamwork and trial‒and‒error learning, and the new equipment will expand those opportunities. 

She emphasized that the goal is not only to build strength but also to help students develop the confidence and persistence needed to approach new challenges. 

The room is still in its early stages, and the new items have not yet arrived. Once they do, staff will evaluate how the materials fit into the space and how students respond to them. 

Additional needs may be identified after teachers observe how classrooms use the equipment.

While the two grants were awarded independently and serve different age groups, both projects reflect a broader district effort to support student growth through movement, exploration, and hands‒on learning. 

Derek Lieser’s project uses technology to help high school students understand their physical capabilities and track their progress with precision. 

Erika Lieser’s project gives preschoolers the foundational motor skills and collaborative experiences they need as they begin their educational journey.

Both educators said they are grateful for the support that made their projects possible. For Erika Lieser, the opportunity to expand the Gross Motor STEM Activities Room represents a meaningful investment in early learning.

“What matters most is giving our students more opportunities to move, build and learn,” she said. “I’m excited to see what they create with the new equipment.”