Superintendent

Superintendent Jeff Elstad has been the superintendent of Owatonna Public Schools since 2017 and in public education for the past 29 years.

He has been an early childhood special education teacher, speech and language pathologist, coach and administrator.  He has proudly served as a Director of Special Services for the New Prague Area Schools, Assistant Principal at Owatonna High School, Principal at Willow Creek Middle School (Rochester), superintendent for the Byron Public Schools and currently as the superintendent for Owatonna Public Schools. 

He has also been an adjunct faculty member of Concordia University – St. Paul and University of St. Thomas teaching in both Education Leadership departments.  He was named Administrator of the Year in 2012 and Region 1 Administrator of Excellence in 2016. He is also a past president for the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Although he enjoys a great career as a public educator, his favorite past times are being a husband to his wife, Gina and dad to four children: Kirsten - OHS '14,  Darik - OHS '17, Kaia - OHS '20 and Mikah - OHS Junior.

Jeff has a passion for developing people and has made it his commitment to communicate people’s potential so clearly, they begin to see it in themselves.

- Jeff Elstad, Superintendent