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The Albert Lea school board on Wednesday unanimously selected two candidates to move forward for second-round interviews in the search for the district’s next superintendent.

The candidates are the following:

• Mandy Fletcher, superintendent of Blue Earth Area School District

• Dr. Steven Heil, superintendent of St. James Public Schools

Board Chairman Dave Klatt described Fletcher and Heil as “two really great candidates,” and said he looked forward to bringing additional questions to the two applicants on Monday.

Three candidates interviewed in front of the board for the position. Dr. Michael Neubeck, superintendent of Byron Public Schools, also interviewed but was not selected to advance to the next stage. 

After the interviews were completed, Klatt presented the board with three options for moving forward: first, call all three semifinalists back for a second interview; second, call two back for second-round interviews; or third, if the board already felt strongly about one candidate, to move forward with offering a contract to that individual. He said a drawback to the last option would be the community wouldn’t be as involved as various stakeholders are slated to provide feedback after the finalist interviews. 

The board briefly discussed that Heil is interviewing at the Kasson-Mantorville school district on Monday earlier in the day. He is also a semifinalist with Byron Public Schools, where interviews are taking place this week. 

Board member Gary Schindler, in motioning to bring back Fletcher and Heil for second interviews, said when he looked at the data from where the board thought the candidates met and exceeded expectations, there was essentially a tie between the two candidates. 

“We have two strong candidates,” he said. 

Board member Neal Skaar said he would have a hard time choosing between the two at this point and he thought it would good to have one more round to have both convince him that they are the better candidate. 

“I’m pretty sure we would be happy with either one of them,” Skaar said. 

Board member Kim Nelson concurred and said she could see potential with either of the candidates in the position. 

Fletcher said she grew up in Elmore and graduated from Blue Earth Area School District. Though she initially got her degree in marketing and business, she fell in love with assisting in the development of young adults as a coach when she was in college. 

She eventually went back to school and got her master’s degree in teaching and later her superintendent license after being encouraged to do so by a part-time retired superintendent. She said she taught several years before getting her principal’s license and then her superintendent’s license. 

She said she was drawn to the Albert Lea position because of the district’s commitment to being a rural school and said the district has always intrigued her. 

Fletcher said building relationships has always been important to her and noted that developing relationships must be done first so people can trust you and believe in your vision. She said being seen and approachable is key to developing relationships and talked about the need to have frequent, regular and ongoing opportunities to meet with people. 

Regarding financial challenges and planning for long-term sustainability, Fletcher said at both of the districts she has been a superintendent, there was financial instability when she came in. They successfully made it through those challenges at both and are on the path to what she described as healing. 

Fletcher said communication is key to transparency and talked about various methods of communicating with the staff, parents and the community. 

When given the opportunity to ask questions of the board, Fletcher asked what would be the main focus for her in helping the district if she was selected for the position. 

Board members shared concerns of declining enrollment, budget cuts, improving the culture in the district and improving transparency and communication. 

She said when she learned some of the challenges facing the Albert Lea district, particularly the financial challenges, she asked herself if this is something she wanted to tackle again, but noted that looking back on where things have come at her current district, she has seen how the district has grown and healed from that time of challenge there. 

Heil, who was born and raised in Rochester, said he went to Winona State and got his elementary and middle school teaching degrees and taught and coached for a time in Arizona where he lived with his wife. 

He has his master’s degree in educational leadership, as well as his doctorate. He noted successes in taking schools from declining enrollment and budget problems to increasing enrollment, increased opportunities and higher ACT scores. 

He said he is big in strategic planning and noted that part of his doctorate was in organizational development. 

In building relationships with students, staff, parents and others in the community, he said it is important to be present. 

“You can’t build a relationship from afar,” he said, noting you have to show you care. 

Students pick up on that the most, he said, whether it’s giving high-fives to preschoolers and kindergarteners on their way in to school, shaking hands with graduates or letting students know when you see them shoot a basketball or make a pin. Students also know when you’re in the classroom. 

Heil said he is known for talking with his staff at the schools, too, and he said the greatest place to get to know parents is at the activities. He has always lived in the communities where he has been an administrator.

Regarding transparency, he said one thing both the board and superintendent will always agree on is that they don’t like surprises. He said board members can call him at any time. He also talked about sending out weekly communications to the school board and regular updates to the community. 

When asked how to deal with financial challenges and plan for long-term sustainability, Heil talked about the importance of saving when times are good and building savings accounts for things like summer unemployment, paid family medical leave and others. He also talked about looking at the district’s strategic plan to identify priorities.

Regarding building a strong team and identifying and cultivate leadership potential, he said he has always used core competencies for administrators, asking them to evaluate themselves on what they’d like to work on — one area they’re good at, one that’s in the middle and another goal that’s a stretch. He also said it is important to offer opportunities for staff members to excel. 

Heil asked a similar question as Fletcher in what the board would like to see from him if hired. He also asked what is one things the board wants the Albert Lea district to be known for over the next five years. 

Nelson said she wanted the district to be a place where students are given opportunities with the strengths they have to move forward with a pathway. Klatt said he wanted the district to be known as a place to belong, and Board member Angie Hoffman said she wanted it to be known as a great place to work. 

Hoffman said Fletcher was an excellent communicator who gave precise, yet thorough, answers to the board’s questions, and Nelson said Fletcher seemed comfortable in her responses, had good examples and was easily able to identify things when asked. 

Schindler said he thought Fletcher’s answers to the questions involving collaboration, transparency and financial crises were more comprehensive than the other candidates’ responses. 

Klatt said he thought Fletcher was well-versed in working with the community and described her as approachable. 

Skaar said he saw Heil as articulate and well-versed and that he also seemed personable and approachable. He thought it was evident Heil loves being out in the community and with teachers and students. 

Board member Mary Jo Dorman said she was impressed with Heil’s answers regarding superintendent leadership and acknowledged his experience at several different locations. She said she could envision how some of his examples could relate in Albert Lea.

Schindler said what stood out to him about Heil was his sincerity and even a display of emotion during one of the questions, which he said showed vulnerability and honesty. He also said he thought Heil was down-to-earth. 

“I think that style would be a good fit,” Schindler said. 

Klatt said he thought Heil was hardworking, honest and a strong leader who was present in his work. 

The district’s search is underway after the board parted ways with former Albert Lea Superintendent Ron Wagner in December. Former Austin Superintendent David Krenz has been serving the district in the interim.

Interviews with the two finalists will begin at 5 p.m. Monday. All interviews will be held in Room 109 at Brookside Education Center and are open to the public.