MREA’s membership elected one new and re-elected two incumbent directors to the 2017 MREA Board of Directors. With the Board also appointing two new directors, it welcomed three new faces to its January 30-31 meeting in St. Paul.
New Directors
Mark Schmitz
Agency Representative, North
Schmitz is executive director of Resource Training & Solutions, a service cooperative serving schools in the Central Minnesota area. Schmitz previously served as superintendent for Staples-Motley Schools. He has also been an elementary teacher and intermediate level principal.
Lance Bagstad
At-Large Representative, North Central Zone
Bagstad is superintendent at Park Rapids Area Schools. He has served as a rural educator for 23 years, with 19 of those in administration. He enjoys promoting education and serving on community action committees.
Dion Caron
School Board Representative, South Central Zone
In addition to the Marshall Public School Board, Caron serves on the Delegate Assembly for the Minnesota School Boards Association and the Marshall Public School Safety, Crisis and Professional Development Committees. He works in human resources at the Southwest-West Central Service Cooperative.
Returning Directors
MICHEAL HAMILTON
School Board Representative, South Zone
Hamilton has been involved in education for over 50 years. A retired educator, he taught for 32 years in the Plainview Schools. He is serving his 10th year on the Plainview-Elgin-Millville school board.
LUTHER HELLER
Administrator Representative, South Central Zone
Heller has served as superintendent at Montevideo Public Schools for nine years. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska and has served on the governing boards for MREA, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and the American Association of School Administrators.
