WINDOM -- The Windom Area Schools Board of Education offered Wayne Wormstadt its open superintendent position Tuesday after visiting Wormstadt's current workplace, the Canistota School District, Canistota, S.D.
"The whole school board came," Wormstadt said. "That was a new experience -- having them question and find out about our district and ourselves."
Wormstadt has not yet decided whether to accept the position and will tour Windom Saturday along with his wife, Becki, and their three children.
The decision on the job offer and the move that would come along with it is a family decision, Wormstadt said.
The board, Windom's high school principal and two teachers' union representatives toured Canistota Tuesday and asked many questions, talking to teachers, Canistota board members, students and community members.
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"We found out that he's excellent. They will hate to see him go," said Joe LaCanne, the chairman of the school board. "And that was truly the feeling; there was nothing put on. They're very happy with him, and they're very happy with what he's done there."
LaCanne has been pleased with the superintendent search so far, and like the rest of his board, found Wormstadt to be a good fit for the Windom school district.
Wormstadt has many of the qualities Windom is looking for in a superintendent, LaCanne said.
"He is a good listener. He is aggressive in his ideas of what he thinks we need, as far as education and technology. He has a vision," LaCanne explained. "His ideas are progressive, especially related to technology. He stands firm on things and has a good rapport with staff and his school board."
Wormstadt has served as Canistota's superintendent since 2004. Prior to that, he was a middle school and high school principal at Timber Lake School District, Timber Lake, S.D., and athletic director at Cresbard School District, Cresbard, S.D., from 1997 to 2001.
His teaching experience includes social studies and physical education teaching at Cresbard and serving as a middle school discipline aide and substitute teacher at Moundsview. He also coached football, basketball and track in several schools.
Wormstadt received his bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in education at Northern State University, Aberdeen, S.D., and his specialist degree in education leadership at the University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Wormstadt believes his experience in finance and technology makes him a good fit for the position. Windom may also be a good fit for his family, he said, with its many youth activities, recreational programs and amenities.
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"I really enjoy setting a direction and a vision and doing a long-term plan to make the best impact for students and networking with the community and with other people," Wormstadt said. "It's enjoyable to work with people and bring them together and work toward a common goal."
