ISD 728 Assistant Superintendent Kari Rock and the District’s leadership team have announced hirings for the middle school principal positions at the two Elk River middle schools effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Both recommendations were approved by the ISD 728 School Board last night. 

Current Interim Principal Dan Wrobleski, who joined Salk STEM Middle School during the current 2021-2022 school year when Julie Althman was named principal at the new PrairieView Middle School, will serve as principal of the award-winning school beginning next fall. 

“Dan is well-versed in both PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) programs, which are essential for student success around our District,” Rock said. “He has supported students, staff and families at Salk Middle School in an excellent manner since joining our District in 2022.”

Current Rogers High School Assistant Principal Mike Zeman will also be moving into a leadership position and serve as Principal at VandenBerge Middle School. Zeman, who has been an assistant principal at Rogers High since 2014, takes over for Marcia Welch, who is retiring at the end of the current school year. 

“Mike and his family live in the Elk River community and will be a wonderful addition to VandenBerge,” Rock said. “He’s also very strong in our AVID and PBIS programs and has really focused on identifying and supporting student needs with the creation of quality interventions we’ve used at Rogers. He will bring those talents and much more to VMS.” 

With the addition of Prairie View Middle School in 2022-2023, ISD 728 now operates 10 elementary schools, seven middle schools and four high schools, along with one of the state’s first K-12 online programs, serving more than 14,000 students. 

“We are very proud of our team and the work they have done since the 2019 referendum to prepare our District for the future,” said Superintendent Dan Bittman. “We had a great field of professionals who showed interest in leading these two school communities, and we are confident Mike and Dan will continue our mission to educate, inspire and empower our Salk and VandenBerge students next year and into the future.”