Urbandale Hires New Karen Acres Principal After Controversial Resignation

Lara Justmann, Urbandale's associate middle school principal, was selected as Karen Acres Elementary School principal Monday night.

She inherits a school that is on the No Child Left Behind list of underperforming schools, and a group of parents who are reeling from principal Patty Schlotterbeck's sudden resignation in May. 

About 20 Karen Acres parents attended the Urbandale School Board meeting and three of them spoke to the board Monday, expressing their support for Schlotterbeck, their disappointment at "how this was handled" and their concern about getting the right person as her replacement.

Justmann, who had a chance to speak to the board and the parents, said: "I want to build the trust that you really desire in a leader, and I think you want that. … I promise that I will not disappoint you."

Unhappy Parents

Parents said they believe Schlotterbeck was forced to resign. The school board had a closed session meeting on May 9, after which they voted to offer an early retirement package to her if she resigned, according to district records.

Schlotterbeck told the Des Moines Register in May that she and Stilwell had a difference of opinion and that she was unhappy with the way he handled situations at the school over the past year. 

Brad Ortmeier, outgoing Karen Acres PTA president, was one of three parents who spoke to the board Monday. 

"From my perspective, I don't feel due diligence was done around Patty's leaving," he said. "School test scores aren't a good reflection of the impact Patty and the teachers had."

"I think resources have been lacking a lot at Karen Acres," he said.

Kim Knoll, a parent and volunteer, told the board: "My disappointment is that we had a principal in place who did really care about the school. She had a lot of passion for the kids. … She was judged on things beyond her control."

Parents' Concerns "Academic"

Ortmeier said the parents' appearance before the school board — they had to wait a month for the next school board meeting — "was pretty much academic, but it's just making sure a school this size is being heard."

Justmann spent time with Karen Acres parents in the lobby after the board voted to hire her.

Janelle Leahy, a Karen Acres parent, said she came to the board meeting because of her confusion about why Schlotterbeck left.

"I wanted to see if the reasons for any of that came to light tonight and I wanted to support Patty. I thought Patty was a great principal."

She said she doesn't know any more after the meeting, but that she's "pleasantly surprised" about Justmann's selection. She said she knows of her because she has a daughter at Urbandale's Middle School.

Selection Process

Superintendent Stilwell said the school district received 25 applications for the position and he screened candidates to six finalists. Urbandale elementary principals Greg Carenza and Mark Lane conducted phone interviews with those candidates and Stilwell then narrowed the candidates to four finalists.

A group of Karen Acres PTA members and teachers were part of face-to-face interviews with the four finalists. A minimum of two references were called for each candidate and Stilwell then chose Justmann from the finalists to recommend to the school board.

"I've know Lara for seven years. I'm convinced she is the right person to lead this building," he said.

Justmann started with the Urbandale district in 2000 as a math teacher. She has a degree in elementary education with a minor in math from the University of Northern Iowa, a master's in counseling, and a specialist degree in administration.

In 2005, she became dean of counselors at Urbanale Middle School and then became associate principal in 2009.

"She is a master at relationship building. She's a passionate and dedicated leader," he said.

Stilwell said others have she excels at positive communication and resolves conflicts with finesse; she's a tireless and dedicated worker who believes every child can and will succeed. 

"One important question I ask myself about anyone I look to hire a principal is whether or not I would have wanted my children to work under his or her leadership," said Stilwell.  "The answer for Lara Justmann is a resounding "yes!"  She is a quality educator and even more so a quality individual."

What She'll Do First

Justmann said that her first step will be to bring parents, staff and students together before school starts "to bring everyone together and start it off on a positive note."

She said she hopes to have a couple open houses where parents and students can some and meet her and talk with her.

She also plans to  meet with Karen Acres teachers. While honoring the work already done, Justmann said she wants to ask them three questions:

What makes Karen Acres a special place?

What would make it better?

What resources do you need to do that?