MREA’s membership elected three new and re-elected one incumbent director to the 2021 MREA Board of Directors. With the Board also appointing two directors, it welcomes four new faces to help represent and advocate for Greater Minnesota education.
New Directors
Dr. Boyd Bradbury
Higher Education Representative, North
Bradbury was appointed by the Board to a four-year term to help bridge connections to higher education. He has taught and/or administered in four rural Minnesota school districts and is now an educational leadership faculty member at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He received MREA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2019 for his contributions to the 18 Online initiative.
Abby Geotz
School Board Representative, North Central Zone
Geotz was elected by membership to a one-year term for 2021 to fill a mid-term vacancy. She is in her ninth year as a school board member for Crosby-Ironton schools and has worked with rural at-risk youth in many capacities.
Melissa Sparks
Administrator Representative, South Central Zone
Sparks, 7-12 Principal at MACCRAY Schools, was elected to a four-year term. She is in her 26th year in education, all for MACCRAY school district as a band instructor, school counselor, and now principal. She helped pioneered with state approval the four-day week for MACCRAY 13 years ago.
Jake Thompson
School Board Representative, South Zone
Thompson was elected for a four-year term. He was a Minnesota teacher for 10 years and has been on the Plainview-Elgin-Millville school board for the last 8 years.
Returning Directors
Lance Bagstad
At-Large Representative, North Central Zone
Bagstad was re-elected to a 4-year term for 2021-2024. He is superintendent at Park Rapids Area Schools and has served as a rural educator for 27 years. He was MREA Board President in 2020 and continues this year as Past President.
Mark Schmitz
Agency Representative, North
Schmitz was reappointed by the Board to serve a second four-year term as the service cooperative representative for the northern half of the state. He is executive director of Resource Training & Solutions, a service cooperative serving schools in the Central Minnesota area. Schmitz has been a superintendent, elementary teacher and intermediate level principal.
