K-M’s new superintendent’s family life revolves around school

Theodore Ihns is the new superintendent for the Kasson-Mantorville School District. His duties were meant to start on July 1, but he used some vacation time from his previous school district to get a head start at K-M on June 11.

Ihns was previously the superintendent for the Indianola School District in Iowa. In his past, he has also held positions in both Iowa and Minnesota as a teacher, coach, advisor, dean of students, assistant principal and principal.

He worked in the Twin Cities for 25 years and then became superintendent in his hometown in northeast Iowa for five years before going to Indianola.

The superintendent didn’t always picture this life. “I never really thought, as I started out my career in education, that I’d ever be a superintendent,” Ihns said. “I think it just kind of happens.”

When he first started out with teaching for 13 years, he was very involved with the student council and coaching football, basketball and track. “I did everything you could do,” Ihns said.

He received some encouragement from individuals he worked with to think about going into administration. “I thought a little bit about it,” Ihns said. “And I said ‘well, people think I can do it and I enjoy looking at the bigger picture,’ [so] I did that.”

It was then when he became a dean of students and then on to an assistant principal to principal and in 2017 he became a superintendent. “It just seemed like the next step,” Ihns said. He also took the step up to maybe even have a wider impact on students and the community.

Ihns found his way to K-M due to his wife Pam receiving a job in Minnesota. “She had followed me in my career for over 30 years,” Ihns said. “It was my turn to follow her.” They have been married for 29 years and have four children, a granddaughter and a golden retriever.

Ihns has been working in education for 36 years now. “Most people would have been retired by now,” Ihns said. “I still enjoy what I do.”

K-M was the only position Ihns looked at. “K-M seemed like a great district to come to,” he said. “That’s why I threw my hat in the ring and I was fortunate enough to receive the job.”

With his extra time in the office, Ihns had the opportunity to have some individual meetings with staff and board members and also talked to some people within the community. “It’s a great community,” Ihns said.

A recurring theme Ihns found throughout these conversations is the support that the school receives. “To have that support is really great,” Ihns said. “[I’m] very pleased with what I’ve been able to see up to this point.”

Ihns also believes there are a lot of great things going on in the K-M school district, especially its commitment to excellence. “Our goal is how do we continue to fulfill that and how do we make our school system even better than it is today,” Ihns said. “I think that’s always going to be what drives me everyday at my job.”

Ihns has talked about a strategic plan for the K-M school district. “What are we currently at, where do we want to go and how do we get there,” he said. “With that strategic planning, it’s inviting staff, students, parents, community members and administrators all to have a say in that.” He cares about what individuals want from the K-M school district and how they can make that vision become a reality.