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Central Lee gets three new administrators
By Brennan Umthun/MVM News Network
DONNELLSON - When it rains it pours, or ... as in recent weeks at Central Lee School District (and across the tri-states)... it floods.
With the beginning of the next school year Central Lee finds itself with an all new administration team, as Elementary Principal Jon Hasleiet, Middle School Principal Kim Kirchner and High School Principal Shane Knoche have all accepted positions at different educational locations in the state.
“The fact that all of us are leaving was a mere coincidence,” said Kirchner. “We weren't looking for new jobs; they were offered to us. Speaking for myself, I just couldn't turn it down.”
Kirchner said that leaving Central Lee after 12 years is not something she looks forward to.
“I will miss everyone,” she said. “From staff to students, teachers, parents ... everyone.”
Considering Kirchner has taken a new position with AEA in Burlington, she said she will endure the growing gas prices by driving to work every day from Montrose because she and her husband want to keep their children in the Central Lee Community School District.
“We are not moving, because I want my kids to graduate from Central Lee. It's an outstanding institute,” she said. “I know first hand how outstanding the teachers are here. As far as the community, this is the first community I truly wanted to call my own. It's a community within a community ... parents always want to help the school. I have never been in a community this strong and nurturing, which is why we will keep our kids here.”
Knoche - who has been at Central Lee for the last three years - said that the decision to leave for North Scott was a tough one to make: one he waited until the last minute to go through with.
“It was a very difficult decision for my wife (who coached track at Central Lee) and I to make because the school and the community are so great,” he said. “But when it came down to it we could be about 15 minutes from each of our families. We felt it would be good to be closer to home, just a little bittersweet because we didn't want to leave.”
Knoche and Kirchner added that the next couple of years will be an exciting time at Central Lee due to new technology that seems to only get better and more advanced every year.
Hasleiet - who will be the new elementary principal at Center Point-Urbana - first joined Central Lee as a guidance counselor before accepting his position as elementary principal two years ago.
“My wife Tonya and I will really miss the people here,” Hasleiet said. “They are wonderful. I can't imagine finding a community like the one we have here. You don't find communities who get behind their schools like Central Lee's does.”
He continued, “I will miss working with this great group of people - I can't stress that enough - they will be missed. It's really hard to leave ... I couldn't have worked for a better district and I doubt there is a better superintendent to work for than Mr. Henriksen.”
Superintendent John Henriksen was excited to introduce his new building principals, but at the same time sorry to see such a talented administration team leave.
“It's definitely a loss when you see such fine people go,” he said. “I wish them all well. They are all going for different reasons, but they all say they hold a warm spot in their hearts for Central Lee.”
Henriksen said that the new elementary principal is Nicole Herdrich, who taught special needs children for the last eight years at Denmark Elementary.
Herdrich is a 1995 graduate of Central Lee High School. She earned her teaching degree in special education from Western Illinois University and her principalship from Viterbo University.
Taking over Kirchner's position at the middle school is Kim Ensminger. Ensminger - also a graduate of Central Lee High School - has worn many hats at Central Lee, including teaching elementary special education and kindergarten over the last four years.
She also was the transportation director and director of student services. Before making her way to Central Lee she taught in the Harmony School District.
Ensminger holds a degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa, where she earned her master's in secondary special education. She also holds an education specialist degree from Western Illinois University.
The new high school principal is agricultural expert Rusty Shockley from Davis County, where he taught Vocational Agriculture for a number of years.
He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural education.
Shockley holds a master's degree in agricultural administration from Drake University.
In addition to teaching at Davis County he also spent time teaching at Albia for a year and in the Northeast Community School District at Goose Lake for 10 years.
“We are excited about what our new administration brings to Central Lee,” said Henriksen. “We know that they will help push Central Lee well into the future.”
With the beginning of the next school year Central Lee finds itself with an all new administration team, as Elementary Principal Jon Hasleiet, Middle School Principal Kim Kirchner and High School Principal Shane Knoche have all accepted positions at different educational locations in the state.
“The fact that all of us are leaving was a mere coincidence,” said Kirchner. “We weren't looking for new jobs; they were offered to us. Speaking for myself, I just couldn't turn it down.”
Kirchner said that leaving Central Lee after 12 years is not something she looks forward to.
“I will miss everyone,” she said. “From staff to students, teachers, parents ... everyone.”
Considering Kirchner has taken a new position with AEA in Burlington, she said she will endure the growing gas prices by driving to work every day from Montrose because she and her husband want to keep their children in the Central Lee Community School District.
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Knoche - who has been at Central Lee for the last three years - said that the decision to leave for North Scott was a tough one to make: one he waited until the last minute to go through with.
“It was a very difficult decision for my wife (who coached track at Central Lee) and I to make because the school and the community are so great,” he said. “But when it came down to it we could be about 15 minutes from each of our families. We felt it would be good to be closer to home, just a little bittersweet because we didn't want to leave.”
Knoche and Kirchner added that the next couple of years will be an exciting time at Central Lee due to new technology that seems to only get better and more advanced every year.
Hasleiet - who will be the new elementary principal at Center Point-Urbana - first joined Central Lee as a guidance counselor before accepting his position as elementary principal two years ago.
“My wife Tonya and I will really miss the people here,” Hasleiet said. “They are wonderful. I can't imagine finding a community like the one we have here. You don't find communities who get behind their schools like Central Lee's does.”
He continued, “I will miss working with this great group of people - I can't stress that enough - they will be missed. It's really hard to leave ... I couldn't have worked for a better district and I doubt there is a better superintendent to work for than Mr. Henriksen.”
Superintendent John Henriksen was excited to introduce his new building principals, but at the same time sorry to see such a talented administration team leave.
“It's definitely a loss when you see such fine people go,” he said. “I wish them all well. They are all going for different reasons, but they all say they hold a warm spot in their hearts for Central Lee.”
Henriksen said that the new elementary principal is Nicole Herdrich, who taught special needs children for the last eight years at Denmark Elementary.
Herdrich is a 1995 graduate of Central Lee High School. She earned her teaching degree in special education from Western Illinois University and her principalship from Viterbo University.
Taking over Kirchner's position at the middle school is Kim Ensminger. Ensminger - also a graduate of Central Lee High School - has worn many hats at Central Lee, including teaching elementary special education and kindergarten over the last four years.
She also was the transportation director and director of student services. Before making her way to Central Lee she taught in the Harmony School District.
Ensminger holds a degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa, where she earned her master's in secondary special education. She also holds an education specialist degree from Western Illinois University.
The new high school principal is agricultural expert Rusty Shockley from Davis County, where he taught Vocational Agriculture for a number of years.
He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural education.
Shockley holds a master's degree in agricultural administration from Drake University.
In addition to teaching at Davis County he also spent time teaching at Albia for a year and in the Northeast Community School District at Goose Lake for 10 years.
“We are excited about what our new administration brings to Central Lee,” said Henriksen. “We know that they will help push Central Lee well into the future.”
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