Board names seven semifinalists for superintendent

The New Prague Area School board approved a list of seven semifinalists for the superintendent post being vacated by Larry Kauzlarich at the end of the current school year. 

There were 19 applicants for the position, 10 of whom have superintendent experience. Of the seven who were selected, four are current superintendents, three are principals and one works in central office administration. Semifinalists are:

Gary Anger - Principal at Red Pine Elementary School in Eagan. He has 14 years of experience as a principal and one as dean of students. He was an elementary instructor for nine years. 

Tim Dittberner - Principal at New Prague Middle School. He has 12 years of experience as a principal, seven as an activities/athletic director and 10 years as a teacher. 

Matt Helgerson - Superintendent of Tri-City United Public Schools in Montgomery. He has six years experience as a superintendent and five as a high school principal, as well as seven years of experience as an elementary instructor. 

Teri Preisler - Central office administrator at Owatonna Public Schools. She has one year of office administrator experience, 14 years of experience as a principal and 11 years as an elementary and secondary music instructor. 

Dr. Jamie Skjeveland - Superintendent at Crosby-Ironton Public Schools. He has 11 years experience as a superintendent, three years as a principal and 11 years as an elementary and secondary music instructor. 

Kevin Wellin - Superintendent at New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Public Schools. He has nine years experience as a superintendent, eight years as a principal and eight years as a science instructor. 

Greg Winter - Superintendent at Braham Public Schools. He has three years experience as a superintendent, 10 years experience as a secondary principal/dean of students and eight years as a secondary science instructor. 

Three of the candidates have ties to the New Prague district. Dittberner has worked for the district since 2002, Helgerson lives in New Prague and his wife is a teacher in the district, and Winter taught in New Prague in the 1990s. 

Candidates will inteview on March 19 and 20, meeting with both a community committee and the board. After interviews are done on March 20, the board will review the candidates and select three finalists to be interviewed the following week.