We would like to introduce you to some new faces. Below are some of the new superintendents starting this year in districts in Heartland AEA's service area. Welcome!
Dennis McClain
Adair-Casey Guthrie Center
What is your education background?
- Buena Vista College: BA - PE/Health
- Jones International University: MEd - Educational Leadership
- University of Northern Iowa: ASC - Superintendent
What is your past work experience?
- Clay Central-Everly: Superintendent/Elementary Principal
- Stanton: K-12 Principal
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
AC & GC are progressive districts with outstanding academic and CTE opportunities. I have enjoyed working with multiple communities in my previous position and look forward to continuing this work in the AC/GC communities.
What is your vision for your district?
I want to continue to develop school-community relationships to expand programming and opportunities for students and our communities.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I am a lifelong learner and enjoy music, sports, and reading.
Eric Trager
Audubon / Coon Rapids-Bayard
What is your education background?
- Iowa State University: BS - Agriculture Education
- Drake University: Masters and Specialists degrees
What is your past work experience?
- Davis County in Bloomfield: Agriculture Education teacher
- Audubon: Agriculture Education teacher, 5-12 principal and shared superintendent with Coon Rapids - Bayard
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
I decided to pursue the superintendency as it was time for a new challenge for me. For me there is no more important work than the work we do in public education and I wanted an opportunity to guide the work of the districts from a central office position.
What is your vision for your district?
My vision is that every person that graduates from our districts does so with all of their doors wide open; that they have the underlying skill set necessary to successfully pursue whatever is next for them. I think we do this by providing excellent faculty and staff, and excellent environment in terms of climate and culture, and the resources our people need to be successful. I also think slow steady progress toward a clearly defined set of goals provides the consistency and continuity necessary for sustainable improvement. It is my job to create conditions for that to happen and I’m excited for that challenge.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy 4-wheeling in my Jeep, woodworking, and most importantly, spending time with my four grandkids.
Casey Berlau
Carroll
What is your education background?
- Iowa State University: Bachelor’s degree - Political Science with a secondary teaching endorsement
- Drake University: Masters, Specialist and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership
What is your past work experience?
- Seymour: Junior High Social Studies Teacher and Head Boys Basketball Coach
- Elk Horn-Kimballton: High School Principal, Superintendent
- Nodaway Valley: Superintendent and shared Superintendent serving Nodaway Valley and CAM CSD
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
Carroll is a community that I have held in high regard. It is a healthy community that offers a great deal to its citizens as well as to the region. My wife and I saw Carroll CSD as a great opportunity for our family as well as for me to grow professionally. The community is supportive of the educational opportunities that exist for students and that was attractive to me. I look forward to working with students, staff and the community to continue to move the district forward.
What is your vision for your district?
My vision is to build strong relationships within our school district and to work collaboratively to ensure that we are continuing to grow and improve as a school district.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids. I also enjoy the outdoors. We spend time camping and boating in the summer and I also enjoying hunting in the fall, winter and spring.
Erik Anderson
Colfax-Mingo
What is your education background?
- University of Northern Iowa: Undergraduate, Masters, Specialists degrees
What is your past work experience?
- Council Bluffs: Middle School Math Teacher, Coach
- Pocahontas: High School Math Teacher, Coach
- Cedar Rapids Prairie High School: High School Math Teacher, Coach
- Prairie High School: Teacher on Special Assignment, Associate Principal, High School Principal
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
Professional and personal fit. I was looking for a district that is passionate about their students’ overall well-being, while also having a strong history in academics. Personally, my wife and I wanted to move to a district that is closer to our daughter in Minneapolis and to family in the Des Moines area. Colfax-Mingo fit our family personally and professionally.
What is your vision for your district?
First, I need to learn all that I can about the people, programs and facilities of Colfax-Mingo. Then we will build a common vision around Colfax-Mingo's established collective commitments that reinforces Colfax-Mingo as a high-quality destination for families.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my two dogs, Thor and Zuzu. I also enjoy golfing, working in the yard and being on the water.
Scott Bridges
Melcher-Dallas
What is your education background?
- Simpson College: Bachelor of Music - Music Education
- University of Phoenix: Master of Arts in Education - Administration and Supervision
- University of Northern Iowa: Superintendency Preparation
What is your past work experience?
- Prairie City Monroe: High School Administrator, High School Band Director
- Melcher-Dallas: 5-12 Band Director
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
I was excited about the opportunity to serve in a leadership capacity in the district in which I started my career.
What is your vision for your district?
To provide a positive learning environment for students that challenges them to realize their full potential. As an educational leader, I also see it as my role to help teachers realize their full potential as instructors in the classroom. If I'm looking back on what we have accomplished in five years, I hope to say that we have become a true PLC school, that we have a fully implemented MTSS program K-12, and that our students are reaping the benefits of our efforts.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
Spending time with family, golfing, hunting, fishing and playing guitar and drums for the church worship team.
Brad Buck
Waukee
What is your education background?
- University of Northern Iowa: BA - Biology (Secondary Education)
- Iowa State University: M.Ed. - Educational Leadership
- Iowa State University: Ph.D. - Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
What is your past work experience?
- Cedar Rapids Community School District: Superintendent
- Iowa Department of Education: Director
- Saydel CSD: Superintendent
- Middle School Principal and Middle School Science Teacher
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this district?
Waukee CSD is a vibrant, dynamic district with a reputation for excellent staff members, supportive families and communities, and a mindset of innovation. In addition, the academic results here are very strong and the activity and athletic opportunities are top notch. I previously worked in Waukee for 10 years and had a great experience. Three of our six children graduated from Waukee High School and we are excited to return to the Des Moines area.
What is your vision for your district?
I have been away for eight years so my early intentions have been and are to meet with a number of stakeholders to understand what people desire to preserve about our district as well as what they are interested in improving. From there, I plan to continue to work closely with the Board and others to design a strategic plan that retains those identified points of preservation and further strengthens and improves an already amazing school district.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
Taking in activities in which my school-aged children participate. Vacation/travel with my wife. Cheering on the Hawkeyes and Vikings and whomever is playing the Cyclones and Bears. Reading.
Matt Adams
Woodward Granger
What is your education background?
- Iowa State University: BS - Elementary Education
- Drake University: MS degree - Educational Leadership; Ed.S. - Educational Leadership; and Ed.D.
What is your past work experience?
- Des Moines Public Schools: Elementary Teacher
- Seymour CSD: Teacher
- Lynnville-Sully CSD: K-8 Principal
- Ankeny CSD: Elementary Principal, Chief Operations Officer
Why did you decide to pursue the superintendent position at this new district?
I was very interested in finding a superintendency that demanded a strong focus on academics and continual improvement. During my research and during the interview process it was clear the community was looking for an instructional leader to guide the district in school improvement. In addition, there is a lot of growth potential at Woodward-Granger CSD. My experience at Ankeny has afforded me the opportunity to respond to growth strategically.
What is your vision for the district?
Quite simply, I want a tremendous school experience for all of the students served by the district. That means we provide a rigorous and challenging curriculum and our instruction aligns to the individual needs of each and every student. It means we connect deeply with our students and provide a safe and predictable environment for them to learn. Last, it means we are preparing them for something big beyond K-12.
What are your hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?
I really enjoy fishing, hunting and gardening. Last summer I learned to can salsa and vegetables out of the garden and enjoy sharing my bounty with others!
