ISD 196 Admin Is Finalist For Stillwater Superintendent Position

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — ISD 196's director of teaching and learning has been named a finalist in the search for a superintendent at Stillwater Area Public Schools.

Steve Troen and three other administrators remain on the list of potential hires after the district's board narrowed the list down from seven.

Stillwater Area Public Schools initially received 18 applications.

Interim Superintendent Malina Lansfeldt, who has served as SAPS' interim superintendent since 2020, is another finalist, along with Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk and Rock Ridge Public Schools Superintendent Noel Schmidt.

The Stillwater Area Public Schools system is looking for its first permanent superintendent since its former schools chief Denise Pontrelli's departure in June 2020. Lansfeldt took over as interim superintendent on a one-year contract, which was later extended.

The board is scheduled to conduct a second round of public interviews with the four finalists next week.