Johnson hired as elementary principal

Trent Johnson has been named the new Minneota Elementary School principal and curriculum director for the 2023-24 school year, replacing Jennifer Mahan-Deitte, who resigned in January.
Johnson, 27, is currently a second-grade teacher in the Sauk Centre school district.
"I'm really excited," he said. "It's hard to be nervous for something that hasn't started yet. I look forward to being in a community where everyone knows everyone else. I've heard nothing but good things about Minneota."
Johnson grew up in Browerville. Both his parents are elementary teachers.
"I had my mom as a teacher in second grade and my uncle as a teacher in fifth grade," said Johnson, then added with a laugh, "I dodged my dad in sixth grade."
After high school, Johnson attended the University of Minnesota, Morris for four years, majoring in Elementary Education. He was hired to teach fourth grade at Wadena Deer Creek for the 2018-19 school year before being hired as a kindergarten teacher at Sauk Centre. After two years teaching kindergarten, he has taught second grade each of the last two years.
While he was teaching school, he was also attending online classes at Moorhead State, earning his Masters for Educational Leadership and also a Specialist K-12 administration license.Besides being an assistant basketball coach, Johnson is also an assistant football coach. He played basketball, football and baseball in high school, and then played four years of baseball at UM-Morris.
"I heard about the opening for an elementary principal in Minneota through EdPost," Johnson said. "My principal at Sauk Centre, Amy Millard, worked with (Minneota Superintendent) Scott Monson at Morris and she knew I would enjoy working with him."
There were eight applicants for the position of elementary principal, including one that came in after Johnson had already been offered and accepted the job. The school board chose to interview five of those eight.
Johnson applied for the Minneota position in mid-February and shortly after was contacted about coming to Minneota for an interview.
"I am also an assistant basketball coach at Sauk Centre and we had a makeup game that night, so they changed the interview for me to March 2," Johnson said.
He then was interviewed by members of the school board, teachers and paraprofessionals.
"Mr. Johnson is student focused, collaborative, caring, a good communicator, and he is ready to make the transition from the classroom into an administration role," said Abby Thostenson, Minneota school board chairman. "We liked that he has taught at three elementary grade levels. He has experience and training in several areas that align with what’s happening in the elementary school, LETRS training is an example."
Johnson received an email from Monson the next day, inquiring if he was still interested in the position and requesting a second interview.
"Name a time and place," Johnson enthusiastically responded.
Johnson then met with Monson and high school principal Heather Anderson on March 6 and was offered the position the next day.
Johnson returned to Minneota for the monthly school board meeting on March 21 and was approved by the school board.
"I was impressed with his calm demeanor and how relatable he was," said Thostenson. "It was very easy to recognize he is student-centered. It was apparent that Trent will think before he acts and collaborate with others on major decisions. We are excited for what he will bring to our school district."
Johnson enjoys his time at Sauk Centre, but feels he is ready to take the next step in his education career.
"I'm comfortable with my decision," Johnson remarked. "Education has always been a focal part of my life. I think I bring a personal culture, positive energy, support and enthusiasm. You always want to aspire to new levels to improve and not just stand still, but I'm not coming in thinking we have to fix this and that."
Mahan-Deitte's final day as Minneota Elementary Principal and Curriculum Director will be June 30, 2023.