AHS has a new interim principal

(ABC 6 News) – Austin Public Schools announced Friday it has selected an interim principal at Austin High School.

In a press release, the district said:

Austin Public Schools is pleased to announce that former Austin teacher, coach, and administrator Dr. Sheri Allen has been named the interim principal at Austin High School for the 2022-23 school year. Dr. Allen retired as superintendent of Mankato Area Public Schools in the summer of 2019 and is in her third year of consulting for TeamWorks International.

In a district-wide reorganization announced in January, Dr. Joey Page, Superintendent, shared changes that are positive moves that will help better align Austin’s administrative team with district goals. The reorganization will also ensure that Austin’s schools are better aligned in instruction, curriculum, and assessment.

According to Teamworks International, "Dr. Allen served as Executive Director of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Rochester Public Schools, Principal at Owatonna Senior High School, and Principal at Washington Elementary School in Owatonna. In Austin, she served as a principal at Neveln and Sumner Elementary Schools. She began her education career as an elementary and middle school teacher as well as a coach with the Austin Public Schools before moving into administration."

"We began a comprehensive search for Austin High School’s next principal in February,” said Dr. Page. “To find the best candidates for Austin High School, we needed to exceed stakeholder expectations and advance our District’s commitments, and the schools’ commitments, to improvement. Dr. Allen’s incredible experience and accomplishments will afford us more time to think differently about talent, what ‘the best candidate’ means, and what finding the best candidate requires."

Dr. Allen will begin her duties as the interim Austin High School principal this summer, and an open search will start for a permanent AHS principal after the start of the 2022-2023 school year.