Dr. John Thein Back For Second Stint As ROCORI Interim Superintendent

(KNSI) – Meet the new temporary boss, same as the old temporary boss.

The ROCORI School Board announced at a special meeting Monday that Dr. John Thein will return to helm the district on an interim basis, beginning July 1st. Thein will replace former superintendent Brad Kelvington, who went on administrative leave in February. He also took over for Scott Staska in 2018.

On the call was Barb Dorn, director of leadership development and executive search with the Minnesota School Board Association. She said going with an interim head is not unusual for a school district that casts its net in the back half of the academic year.

“A lot of searches this late in the year often result in smaller pools. And therefore, very often it also results in school boards that, after the interviews, choose to go the interim route.”

Thein has been an interim superintendent at districts other than ROCORI. His experience leading Roseville Area Schools on a full-time basis for 17 years was also attractive to board members, including Lynn Schurman.

“I’ve been at a number of sessions with people from the Roseville Area Schools and they have a lot of the similar issues that we’re having. Some of the diversity and racial issues that we’ve been trying to resolve.”

The search for a permanent superintendent will resume in the fall.

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