New Paton-Churdan superintendent named

By AUDREY INGRAM
a.ingram@carrollspaper.com

GLIDDEN — Glidden-Ralston principal Kreg Lensch will take over as the shared superintendent for Glidden-Ralston and Paton-Churdan community school districts on July 1.

A 1984 Glidden-Ralston graduate, Lensch returned to the district in the fall of 2000. He took over as principal in 2005 and has worked under three superintendents, school board president Matt Connor said.

Lensch will replace Rob Olsen, who accepted a position as superintendent in the Newell-Fonda Community School District.

The Glidden-Ralston school board approved Lensch as the new superintendent during its regular meeting Monday night. The district is “aggressively looking for a principal,” Connor said. The position is already being advertised and will be filled by August, he said.

The “timing was right” for Lensch to move up to superintendent, Connor said. Longevity was a key consideration for the board, and Lensch has stated his intention to stay in the district long-term, Connor added.

Lensch finished his undergraduate work at Northwestern College in Orange City and earned his master’s degree from Drake University.

He has had four sons graduate from Glidden-Ralston, and currently has four stepchildren and two children in the district ranging from first grade to high school senior.

Lensch also had six brothers graduate from the district.

His wife, Angela, is a high school guidance counselor in the OABCIG community school district.

“As you move through your career in education, you’re always wanting to take on more responsibility, to have more say in the direction of the school,” Lensch said. “I think I got that when I took over the principalship and I feel ready for that next step directing both districts.”

In addition to sharing a superintendent, Glidden-Ralston and Paton-Churdan plan to apply for a collaborative Teacher Leadership Compensation grant next year.

Sharing a superintendent — which started two years ago with Olsen — opened doors to such additional sharing because an administrator in the district could see the opportunities, Lensch said. But the goal is not to consolidate the districts, he added.

“Right now it works well because we’re both small districts,” Lensch said. “I am really looking forward to the challenge and opportunity. It will be a great experience. I think.”

His superintendent salary has not yet been set, he said.