I.J. Holton Intermediate School will look to new leadership this fall as Angi McAndrews will take the reins as principal.

“I’ve been really interested and following I.J.’s progress the last few years,” McAndrews said. “I’m really interested in the age group and the STEAM model.”

Although her position officially starts July 1, McAndrews, 41, will spend time in the district between now and then to ease the transition.

“The leaders in Austin have welcomed me very warmly,” she said.

McAndrews began her career in education after earning her bachelor’s degree in elementary and middle school education from Winona State University in 1999.

She worked as a math and science teacher at Kasson-Mantorville Middle School for 11 years and served as union president during her time there, which helped her decide to take on more leadership roles.

“I really realized that leadership was a good fit for me when I served as union president,” she said.

She earned her Master of Arts degree in educational leadership in 2008 and completed her principal licensure in 2010, both from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

“I just felt that I had the tools that were important to have in order to be a good leader,” McAndrews said. “It felt like a natural next step.”

For the last five years, McAndrews has worked at Faribault Middle School, most recently serving as an assistant principal.

While she enjoyed working in other positions in the school districts, there are lots of aspects she’s looking forward to with her first position as a building principal.

“It allows for some leadership with the funding and the way you use dollars in the building,” McAndrews said. “It brings a lot of different opportunities you don’t get while you’re working in the classroom.

According to McAndrews, she sees her role as building principal at I.J. Holton to support staff in their efforts to support students.

“We are advocating and looking at the most important needs of students, beyond just academic,” she said. “[I want to] continue to build the foundational programs and make a great school.”

McAndrews is replacing Jean McDermott, I.J.’s first principal.

— Jenae Hackensmith contributed to this story