Joe Crozier named new head of Grant Wood AEA

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Grant Wood Area Education Agency Board of Directors announced today that Joe Crozier is the agency's new chief administrator.

He replaces Ron Fielder, who is leaving after more than 20 years with the organization.

Fielder's last day is June 30.

“I look forward to working with the board of directors, superintendent, principals, teachers and Grant Wood AEA staff to grow leadership and teaching skills,” Crozier stated in a news release. “The AEA chief administrator has the opportunity to have a huge impact on local district achievement. As the chief administrator, I always remember what the work is like in a local school district and that we must provide leadership and assistance to schools to that every student in every classroom is a successful learner and leads a successful life.”

Crozier is currently the Chief Administrator at Great Prairie Area Education Agency. He has previously held positions as the Chief Administrator for Great River Area Education Agency and Southern Prairie Area Education Agency. Great Prairie serves about 42,000 students in Southwest Iowa.

In his new position, Crozier will oversee 490 full and part-time staff members who provide special education and school improvement services, along with technology support, for more than 70,000 students and 5,000 teachers throughout the seven counties served by the agency.

AEAs were established by the 1974 Iowa Legislature to equalize education services among the state's public and accredited non-public schools. The nine regional service agencies provide school improvement services, including special education support, media and technology, and instructional services, including professional development.

Crozier was selected from a field of nine applicants. Finalists were announced earlier this week.

Grant Wood AEA Board President Jim Green called Crozier a terrific candidate and said the agency will benefit from his leadership skills.

Crozier has held educational administrative positions in Iowa for almost 25 years. He became the chief administrator of Great River AEA in 2002. When the chief for Southern Prairie AEA retired in 2003, Crozier became chief administrator for that agency, too. The two agencies merged in 2007, becoming Great Prairie.

Crozier was the president of the National Association of Education Service Agencies in 2009-10. Prior to his work in the AEA system, Crozier was the superintendent of the Central Lee school district in Donnellson.

Crozier will begin his new duties at Grant Wood AEA on July 1. He was hired with a three-year contract. His salary will be $180,000.

Fielder isn't the only AEA administrator leaving this year. Robert Vittengl of Keystone AEA in Northeast Iowa will also retire on June 30, meaning six of the state's nine AEAs will have chief administrators with one year of experience in the 2011-12 school year.

“It will be a good thing,” said Brent Siegrist of the state's network of Area Education Agencies. “It's an opportunity for new and innovative ideas.”

Among the newcomers are former Eastern Iowa superintendents Lane Plugge and Paula Vincent. Both assumed chief administrator roles with the Green Hills and Heartland AEA offices, respectively, this year.