Krell named to No. 2 spot in Owatonna Schools

One of America’s best principals is coming back to the Owatonna School District as the second in command.
Michelle Krell of Blooming Prairie will begin July 1 as the director of teaching and learning for Owatonna Schools. She looks at her new job as being the “assistant superintendent,” though it’s not officially called that.
She has been the middle school principal at Kasson-Mantorville for the past two years and elementary principal there for five years prior to that.
Krell is not a new face to the Owatonna district as she previously spent seven years as a teacher and administrator.  From 1997 to 2004, she was a teacher at Lincoln Elementary and interim principal at Washington Elementary.
“I loved my seven years in Owatonna,” Krell said, “It feels like I am coming home.”
Krell said she wasn’t actively looking for a new job, but “sometimes when an opportunity presents itself, you jump on.” She looks at the timing as being the right move for her career.
“I love a challenge,” she said. “I think this will be a great challenge,” she added.
In her new role, she will work directly under newly hired superintendent Jeff Elstad, who is currently in the same job with Byron Schools. Both Krell and Elstad begin their new jobs July 1.
The newly appointed educators have never worked together, but know each other, Krell said. “We have very similar views and mission,” she said. “We will be a good team.”
One of Krell’s major responsibilities from the start will be the implementation of the middle school. Owatonna is transitioning from a junior high of grades 7-8 to a middle school of grades 6-8 this fall.
Krell, who aspires to be a superintendent some day, says the new job in Owatonna gets her “as close as you can get to that.” 
In 2014, Krell was honored as one of the best elementary principals in America. 
During her tenure at K-M, the elementary school was named a Minnesota School of Excellence, which is the highest honor schools can obtain. 
Krell has also worked in the Medford and Waseca school districts.
She graduated from Blooming Prairie in 1988 and later obtained her degree in elementary education from Mankato State University. 

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“I love what I do,” Krell said. “I’m excited to be helping steer the district in the right direction. I’m passionate about the work we do with kids.”