Duane earned his BA in Elementary Education from Trinity Bible College and his MA from VCSU in Education and Library Sciences. He has worked for 10 years as a Media Specialist in Moorhead Area Public Schools in Elementary, Middle School, and High School positions and has spent over a decade in Education in Moorhead, Fargo, and West Fargo. He has served on the Star of the North Minnesota Book Award Panel.

As a librarian, his job is to connect people, especially students, with books. He is passionate about this since reading for pleasure is not only the main goal of the library but also the biggest indicator of whether or not an individual will be successful in the future. In addition to his work within the classroom, he provides professional development, teaches Cybersecurity, runs tech internships and helps with repairs on both staff and student electronic devices.