Superintendent
Jeff Elstad
"In our school district we serve the mission of Inspiring Excellence. Every Learner, Every Day. This promise drives us to be our best every day and strive to provide excellence in our schools and around the district. I am proud to be the Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent and hope you take time to visit and volunteer at one of our schools and see our students and staff in action."
- Jeff Elstad, Superintendent
Superintendent Jeff Elstad has been the superintendent of Owatonna Public Schools since 2017 and in public education for the past 31 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 a past president for the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and currently serves on the American Association of School Administrators Governing Board.
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 '23.
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.
Pictured: Superintendent Elstad with Student School Board Representative Hailey Kjersten (Class of 2023)