Bisgard named Linn-Mar associate superintendent

Shannon Bisgard, a regional administrator with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency and former principal in Linn-Mar schools, will be the Linn-Mar Community School District's next associate superintendent, the district said Tuesday.

Bisgard worked as an elementary school principal in Linn-Mar for 11 years, including from 2003 to 2007 at Bowman Woods Elementary School and 2007 to 2013 at Linn Grove Elementary School.

In his current role, Bisgard leads 11 consultants that serve Eastern Iowa schools, according to a Linn-Mar news release.

Bisgard will take over July 1 for Dirk Halupnik, who is leaving to become superintendent of the Southeast Polk Community School District near Des Moines. Halupnik's title is chief academic officer.

Bisgard also will start the position as Quintin Shepherd takes over for the retiring Katie Mulholland as superintendent. Shepherd, now the superintendent of Illinois' District 69, is scheduled to start July 1.

Mulholland said Bisgard's previous experiences in Linn-Mar extended beyond what a principal would usually do.

Bisgard met regularly with a construction team when Linn Grove Elementary was being built, Mulholland said, and he hired all of the school's initial staff.

'That's a very significant experience that many, many administrators never have,” Mulholland said.

Bisgard later was part of contract negotiations in the district and led implementation of a new school leadership structure in all of the district's elementary schools, Mulholland said.

Mulholland said she consulted with Shepherd in hiring Bisgard. Bisgard has the certification required to be a superintendent, she said.

Linn-Mar school board president Tim Isenberg also expressed his support for Bisgard.

'His previous experience here and vast knowledge about Linn-Mar make him an invaluable addition to leadership, especially during a year of transition,” said a statement from Isenberg.

Linn-Mar's school board plans to approve Bisgard's contract at its April 20 meeting, the district said.

Bisgard was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon.