Superintendent Search

The New Prague Area Schools Board is working in partnership with South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) to identify the new leader for the school district. SCSC has experienced consultants that work with school boards in this region and hire the right superintendent to lead districts.

New Prague Area Schools is committed to ensuring effective communication throughout the search process. The district will maintain information on this webpage as an information portal on the search process moving forward.

Superintendent Profile

The process starts with creating a superintendent profile with input from various stakeholders including the school board, school staff, parents/guardians and community members. Click on this (survey is closed) to provide input into this profile. The profile will be used throughout the process to ensure we hire the candidate that meets our district's needs for a new leader.

In addition, SCSC will conduct in-person focus group meetings at the CEC board room as an opportunity to give input to the profile on Tuesday, January 24th at the following times:

• NPAS staff at 4:00 pm
• Community members at 6:00 pm

Monday, January 30th, SCSC will present the superintendent profile (attributes listed below) to the board at a special board meeting.

Desired Superintendent Attributes

1. Communication Skills: Ability to effectively communicate in spoken and written form to connect with multiple audiences.
   
   
2. Collaborator: A good listener that values input from others and possesses strong interpersonal skills while evaluating effective outcomes.
   
   
3. Financial Knowledge: Has experience building budgets which balance student/staff needs with financial resources.
   
   
4. Strategic Planner: Thinks and plans strategically, aligning programs and services with district adopted Strategic Plan to meet the student needs of today and tomorrow.
   
   
5. Personality Traits: Has experience in and understanding of rural cultures, while recognizing the importance of community visibility.
   
   
6. Team Builder: Experience working with stakeholders to develop positive solutions to resolve issues and solve problems.
   
   
7. Visionary: Has experience evaluating educational best practice programs and services to meet current and future district needs.
   
   
8. Personal Characteristics: Has demonstrated honest, ethical practices dedicated to students and staff, delivered with humility.
   
   
9. Culture/Diversity: Understands the unique needs of a diverse student population.
   
   
10. Motivator: Has demonstrated mentoring skills that motivate others to perform at their highest level.

Monday, February 13th, SCSC will work with the board to determine which applicants to interview for the position. Names of finalists will be made public that evening.

Superintendent Finalist Names

Paul Henn

• Bachelors, Masters, Specialist, Doctorate
• Licenses: Superintendent, K-12 Principal, Social Studies
• Director of Learning Services, District Assessment & Instruction Coordinator, Social Science Educator, Social Studies teacher, Summer Targeted Services Coordinator
• Professional Memberships - MASA, Mn Association of School Curriculum Directors, MAESP & NAESP
• Leadership Principles include: Guardian, Connector, Creator
• Director of Learning Services/ Asst. Elementary Principal - New Ulm since 2017

 Jeff Horton

• Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate in Ed. Leadership
• Licenses: Superintendent, K-12 Principal, Special Ed Director, Tier 4 in Behavioral disorders, Learning Disabilities, communication Arts, Social Studies
• Experience as Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent, Director of Student Services, Principal grades 5-12, Special Services Director, classroom teacher, coach
• Active in AASA, MASA, National Equity Cohort
• Superintendent - GFW since 2020

Sarah Knudsen

• Bachelors, Masters, Masters, Administrative Endorsement, Doctorate
• License #369161: Tier 4 - Elementary Education, Elementary Remedial Reading, Emotional Behavior Disorders, Learning Disabilities
• Director of Special Education, Adjunct Professor U of Northern Iowa, Regional Administrator & Special Education, Supervisor of Instructional Programs/Principal
• Personal description - transformational leader, driven by challenge, undeterred by obstacles and committed to excellence, improvement programs
• Special Education Director - Winona since 2018

 Dana Miller

• AA Degree, Bachelors, Masters, Masters, Six-year Certificate
• Licenses: Superintendent, K-12 Principal, MS & HS Guidance, Social Studies
• Director of Teaching and learning, Standards Based Learning Coordinator, Middle School Principal, Asst. Principal, Middle School Counselor
• Has had a variety of experiences - assignments where needed in the school system
• Experiences in various Leadership capacities in the District
• Executive Director of Teaching/Learning - Wayzata since 2021

 Andy Vollmuth

• Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
• Licenses: Superintendent, K-12 Principal, 1-6 Elementary
• Elementary Principal for 16 years in two different school districts (2004-present)
• Professor and Adjunct Professor since 2015 at Concordia University and University of Minnesota
• Active in church and community functions
• Is anxious to serve the school and community of New Prague
• Principal Normandale Elementary since 2007

Due to weather conditions, interviews have been moved from Wednesday, February 22nd to Friday, February 24th at the CEC board room and are open to the public.

Final Two Candidates Selected

• Dana Miller
• Andy Vollmuth
  
  

Superintendent Recruitment Timeline