Superintendent Search

Superintendent Elstad announces retirement

Jeff Elstad, who has served as superintendent for Owatonna Public Schools since 2017, announced his retirement from public education to the school board on Monday evening, with an effective date of June 30, 2025.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the proud superintendent for the staff, students and families of Owatonna Public Schools. This is a special community that honors the past and embraces the future, all in the name of doing what is best for our children and youth,” said Superintendent Elstad. 

The school board will meet in the near future to determine the process for selecting the next superintendent to continue the Owatonna Public Schools’ mission to inspire excellence in every learner, every day

During his eight years as superintendent at Owatonna Public Schools, Elstad led the staff through the pandemic and the creation of Owatonna Online, which is now the fastest-growing online school in Minnesota. He nurtured business and community partnerships that resulted in the passage of a successful bond that led to the new high school opening in 2023, with the largest amount of private donations to a public school district in the state.

"Superintendent Elstad's successes since we first interviewed him over eight years ago have been nothing short of remarkable, as he accomplished what we asked and abundantly more. Owatonna is a better community because of his leadership and contributions," said School Board Chair Mark Sebring.

Elstad’s 32-year career in public education included time as an early childhood special education teacher, speech and language pathologist, coach, and administrator. He served as director of special services for New Prague Area Schools, assistant principal at Owatonna High School, principal at Willow Creek Middle School (Rochester), and superintendent for Byron Public Schools

Superintendent Elstad is a past president for the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and currently serves on the American Association of School Administrators Governing Board. He has been an adjunct faculty member of Concordia University – St. Paul and University of St. Thomas, teaching in both Education Leadership departments. 

The mission of Owatonna Public Schools is Inspiring Excellence - Every Learner - Every Day. To learn more about the school district, visit isd761.org or follow on social media - @owatonna761.

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Owatonna Public Schools announces semifinalists for superintendent

Owatonna, MN–The Owatonna Public Schools School Board has selected five semi-finalists for the superintendent position as part of the process to replace Superintendent Jeff Elstad, who will retire June 30.

These candidates were chosen based on desired characteristics developed from student, staff, and community input. The qualities include: integrity, honesty, transparency, clear communication, compassion, empathy, and high accountability, along with a student focus and innovative work in college and career readiness.

The semi-finalists are:

Tamara Champa - Superintendent, Hastings Public Schools (MN) - enrollment 4000, hastings.k12.mn.us Prior to her current position which began in 2023, Champa served for 11 years as superintendent of Pine Island Public Schools. She also has more than six years of experience as a principal.

Daniel Edwards - Executive Director of Academic Services, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (MN) - enrollment 8600, plsas.org Edwards has spent his entire career at Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, including two years in his current position, two years as director of teaching and learning, sixteen years as principal, and four years as assistant principal.

Eric Hudspith - Superintendent, Waseca Public Schools (MN) - enrollment 1700, waseca.k12.mn.us
Before his five years at Waseca Public Schools, Hudspith spent six years as director of human resources at Mankato Public Schools. He also has experience as a principal at Mankato and Albert Lea as well as director of facilities and transportation in Albert Lea.

Anthony Padrnos - Executive Director of Technology, Osseo Area Schools (MN) - enrollment 21,000, district279.org
Prior to his eight years in his current position with Osseo Public Schools, Padrnos served for three years as director of technology and one year as principal with Richfield Public Schools.

Jami Jo Thompson - Superintendent, Norfolk Public Schools (NE) - enrollment 4500, norfolkpublicschools.org
Thompson has been superintendent at Norfolk Public Schools for twelve years. She previously served for five years as director of student programs and five years as special education and staff development coordinator for Beatrice Public Schools in Nebraska.

“We appreciated the number of highly qualified candidates who applied for our position,” said Mark Sebring, chair of the school board. “We look forward to interviewing our semi-finalists to determine who the top candidates are, based on what the community, students and staff said they wanted in a superintendent.”

Semi-finalists interviews are March 14, 17 and 18 at the Owatonna Public Schools District Office, 333 East School Street, and are open to the public. Questions will not be taken from the audience. Each candidate will spend several hours at the district for a tour, orientation and interview. A complete interview schedule is available on the superintendent search page on the school district website - isd761.org/superintendent-search.

After the semi-finalist interviews, the board will name the finalists. Each finalist will spend an entire day at the district, meeting with several staff groups, touring the city and schools, having an informal Q&A with parents and community members, meeting with business leaders, talking with a panel of students, and concluding with a final school board interview.

Finalist names and interview schedules will be announced March 18.The dates tentatively selected for finalist interviews are March 19, 20 and 25.

Twenty-four completed applications were submitted for the superintendent position. Candidates were from five states and represented a range of current job titles including superintendent, assistant superintendent, executive director, director, principal, coordinator and consultant.

The mission of Owatonna Public Schools is Inspiring Excellence - Every Learner - Every Day. To learn more about the school district, visit isd761.org or follow on social media - @owatonna761.

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Owatonna Public Schools announces superintendent finalists

Owatonna, MN–The Owatonna Public Schools School Board has selected two finalists for the superintendent position, following the completion of the semi-finalist interviews.

The finalists are: Tamara Champa - Superintendent, Hastings Public Schools - enrollment 4000, hastings.k12.mn.us Prior to her current position which began in 2023, Champa served for 11 years as superintendent of Pine Island Public Schools. She also has more than six years of experience as a principal.

Eric Hudspith - Superintendent, Waseca Public Schools - enrollment 1700, waseca.k12.mn.us Before his five years at Waseca Public Schools, Hudspith spent six years as director of human resources at Mankato Public Schools. He also has experience as a principal at Mankato and Albert Lea as well as director of facilities and transportation in Albert Lea.

“We were impressed with the quality of our semi-finalists and look forward to finding the best candidate to continue to move Owatonna Public Schools forward in our goal of inspiring excellence in every learner, every day,” said Mark Sebring, chair of the school board.

Each finalist will spend an entire day at the district, meeting with several staff groups, touring the city and schools, having a Q&A with parents and community members, meeting with business leaders, talking with a panel of students, and concluding with a final school board interview.

Hudspith will interview on March 20, and Champa will interview on March 25. The school board’s final interview with the candidates is at 7:15 p.m. each day and is open to the public. The interviews will take place at the Owatonna Public Schools District Office, 333 East School Street.

An interview itinerary is available on the superintendent search page on the school district website - isd761.org/superintendent-search.

The candidates were chosen based on desired characteristics developed from student, staff, and community input. The qualities include: integrity, honesty, transparency, clear communication, compassion, empathy, and high accountability, along with a student focus and innovative work in college and career readiness.

The position will begin July 1, following current Superintendent Jeff Elstad’s retirement from public education on June 30.

The mission of Owatonna Public Schools is Inspiring Excellence - Every Learner - Every Day. To learn more about the school district, visit isd761.org or follow on social media - @owatonna761.

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Owatonna Public Schools announces new superintendent

Owatonna, MN–The Owatonna Public Schools School Board unanimously selected Dr. Tamara Champa as the new superintendent for the school district during a special meeting on Wednesday, March 26. She is currently the superintendent at Hastings Public Schools.

"I am deeply honored to serve this exceptional school district, and I have great respect for the meaningful work that has already been done to support students, staff, and families,” Champa said. “Together—with our students, staff, families, and community—we will continue to foster a culture of excellence and build upon the strong foundation that defines our schools. I am committed to leading with integrity and purpose, ensuring that every student is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive—every learner, every day."

Student, staff, and community input were considered when developing the qualities desired in the new superintendent, which included: integrity, honesty, transparency, clear communication, compassion, empathy, and high accountability, along with a student focus and innovative work in college and career readiness. 

“Dr. Champa is a strong communicator who understands the importance of ensuring a great school experience for each and every student. We look forward to her leadership with Owatonna Public Schools,” said Mark Sebring, chair of Owatonna Public Schools.

Negotiations will begin soon with Champa, and a contract is expected to be approved at a special meeting on April 14. The position starts July 1, following current Superintendent Jeff Elstad’s retirement from public education on June 30.

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