A Message from MREA Board President Jeff Drake

Dear MREA Members,

My name is Jeff Drake, and it is a great honor to serve as the 2026 MREA President. I am a proud product of rural education, having graduated from Deer River High School in 1986, which means I will be celebrating my 40th class reunion this year—where did the years go?

My path to a career in public education is somewhat unusual. After graduating from Deer River, I attended Gustavus Adolphus College, majoring in psychology and finishing just a couple of courses shy of a double major in biology. Aside from my education, my greatest accomplishment there was meeting my future wife, Amy. Appropriately enough, we met in a “chemistry” lab—and the spark has lasted ever since. We will celebrate our 35-year anniversary this summer.

After Gustavus, I enrolled in graduate school at the University of Minnesota Duluth in the Educational Psychology program. Had we remained in Minnesota, my goal at the time was to become a private practice psychologist. Notable experiences in Duluth included working with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, completing a practicum on the psychology wards at the Moose Lake Regional Treatment Center, and living through the infamous Halloween Blizzard of 1991—39 inches of snow in about 24 hours.

We then moved to the Ellensburg/Yakima area of Washington State for a couple of years while Amy pursued a master’s degree at Central Washington University. Those were lean years. I worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor until being laid off, and then finished my time in Washington working part-time for the state as a social worker. Missing friends and family back home, we decided to relocate to Wisconsin to begin a new chapter.

I spent the next year working for the West Central Wisconsin Private Industry Council as a job developer at the Job Center in Eau Claire. At the time, the Cray Computer factory had closed, and we were assisting individuals who had lost their jobs reenter the workforce. After narrowly avoiding another layoff, I had a life-changing conversation with my dad. Truthfully, I was floundering without a clear career path. He said, “You always enjoyed school—have you thought about becoming a school counselor?”

That conversation changed everything. Within a few months, I had re-enrolled at UMD to meet licensure requirements and secured a position as a counseling intern at Hastings Senior High. I am forever grateful to Principal Rich Clymer for that opportunity. I was even able to negotiate an increase in pay—from the posted $10,000 to $12,000—with legendary Superintendent Ken LaCroix, who was only days away from retirement.

I spent six years as a high school counselor before deciding it was time to pursue a new challenge. My first administrative role was as the high school principal in Milaca, a 7–12 school, where I learned a great deal as a young administrator. I remain grateful they took a chance on me, given my nontraditional path into education.

From there, I spent 16 years as a school administrator in Battle Lake—first as a 7–12 principal, then as a K–12 principal, and eventually as a combined superintendent/principal. For several years, I was the only administrator in the district. One of the many blessings of working in Battle Lake was watching my two children, Jessica and Connor, grow up in the same school where I worked.

After 16 years, it was time to stretch both personally and professionally once again. I accepted the position of superintendent of Fergus Falls Public Schools, where I am currently finishing my seventh year. I have been fortunate to work with truly wonderful people at every stop along my journey.

I have also been fortunate to experience several professional highlights. In 2009, I was named MASSP Middle School Principal of the Year. In 2011, Battle Lake Elementary was named a Blue Ribbon School. In 2012–13, I had the honor of serving as president of MASSP. In 2014, Battle Lake Public Schools received national recognition again as a Blue Ribbon School District—one of only about 25 in the country. I was incredibly proud of our staff and students.

I also had the privilege of traveling to China, visiting classrooms in Shanghai and Beijing. I rode the high-speed train between the two cities, hiked along the Great Wall, and visited Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It was a life-changing experience.

Amy teaches high school science in Fergus Falls. Although we work in the same building, we only commute together about once every two weeks, as our schedules rarely align. Our daughter, Jessica, lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband, Neil. She recently completed her master’s degree, passed her boards, and is now a registered dietitian and fitness instructor. Our son, Connor, will graduate from the University of North Dakota this spring with degrees in aviation studies and history. We will celebrate a wedding at the end of June and officially welcome his fiancée, Allie, into our family.

Our household also includes two Irish Setters. I first fell in love with the breed while reading Jim Kjelgaard’s Big Red series as an elementary student. Oliver and Maggie are rescue dogs from a shelter in southern Colorado—requiring a 2,200-mile round trip completed in about 50 hours. I enjoy spending time outdoors, riding just about any motorized recreational vehicle, reading, music, and weightlifting.

I have been blessed with a wonderful life and career serving Minnesota’s rural schools and communities. I am proud of the work we accomplish together and deeply grateful to serve as MREA President. I look forward to connecting with you this year—please do not hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,
Jeff Drake