K-M picks at least three finalists

The Kasson-Mantorville School Board has narrowed down its search for its next superintendent from six to at least three finalists after first round interviews last week.

The three moving on to a second round of interviews include Beth Giese, Dr. Steven Heil and Nate Walbruch. District spokesperson Karlyn Petersen said that although these three will move on, the list has not yet been “finalized” as one candidate, Dr. Tamara Champa is scheduled to be interviewed this Friday, March 28, and could be added to the final list.

Geise is the superintendent of the Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools, Heil the superintendent of the St. James Public Schools and Walbruch, the superintendent of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Public Schools. Champa is the superintendent of the Hastings Public Schools.

Champa is a finalist for the superintendent position in Owatonna while Heil is a semifinalist for the position at the Albert Lea Public Schools. Champa was scheduled to be interviewed for the Owatonna position on Tuesday while first round interviews in Albert Lea were scheduled for Wednesday.

Heil is also a semifinalist in Byron, along with Walbruch.

Giese was originally supposed to interview for the Albert Lea job as a semifinalist, however, she withdrew her application, according to an Albert Lea Tribune news story.

Reached by email Tuesday afternoon, Giese confirmed she wasn’t withdrawing her application for the K-M position.

“I am very excited to be a candidate for the Kasson-Mantorville superintendent position and thrilled to be a finalist,” she wrote.

The other semi-finalists for the K-M position were Dr. Daniel Edwards, executive director of academic services at Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and Ashley Kaplan, director of Student and Staff Support Systems/director of Teaching and Learning, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools.

When asked if she would be staying with the district, following being rejected for the superintendent job, Kaplan declined to say.

“While I understand you’re seeking information about my professional plans, I’m not in a position to discuss personnel matters or speculate about future employment decisions at this time,” she wrote. “The district’s focus remains on providing the best possible education for our students, which is our shared priority.”