WAUSA – Wausa Public Schools has found its next elementary principal.
The board of education approved the contract for Heather Heimes on March 11 for her to take on a new dual role of Wausa Elementary principal and special education coordinator starting in the 2024-25 academic year.
Wausa Superintendent Brad Hoesing expressed his gratitude to the elementary staff members who volunteered to be on a committee to interview multiple candidates for the position.
“It was a pretty intensive day,” Hoesing said of the roughly eight-hour, “pretty intensive interview process.”
Hoesing, who also currently holds the title of Wausa Elementary principal, noted the staff members took a blind vote and they all agreed that Heimes – who currently works at Wynot Public Schools – was the top choice to take on the new role.
“Our teachers spoke pretty unanimously for Mrs. Heimes,” Hoesing said.
Mike Kumm, school board president, was impressed by the strong support for Heimes.
“It should be a good match,” Kumm said. Hoesing expressed his excitement for Heimes and the elementary staff members.
“She’s excited to make a professional jump,” Hoesing said, noting Heimes’ special education background “is really extensive” and “pretty strong.”
Hoesing said Heimes has worked at Wynot “for quite a while” and has served in many roles there, including as dean of students, school counselor, technology coordinator and one-act and speech coach.
“She’s kind of become their Swiss Army knife,” Hoesing said. “She’s worn a lot of hats.”
Hoesing said Heimes also has done a lot of instructional coaching at Wynot.
“She understands that process and how to do that,” Hoesing said of staff professional development. “She’s done their curriculum coordination.
“She’s done a lot over there,” he said. “Her resume is pretty impressive. Wynot’s going to have to hire several people to replace her.”
Shane Anderson, Wausa’s principal for grades 5-12, noted out of all of the good applicant interviews, Heimes’ was by far the best one.
“You could just tell that she’s probably the best fit for our school,” Anderson said. “She’s super excited about coming to Wausa. She realizes that there are some strengths here that she could use her wisdom and experience and build off those strengths. It’s a very good get for us.”
