With the departure of Royce Helmbrecht to the Lyle Public School this summer, a new face has joined the administrative staff at Austin High School -- that of assistant principal Brad Bergstrom.

Bergstrom has joined the AHS staff after spending the last six years in Fergus Falls as a social studies teacher, the dean of students at the high school and the director of the alternative studies program at the high school.

During that time, he says proudly, he coached the boys' hockey team for six years and saw them play in the state tournament each year.

Bergstrom was drawn to Austin because he was looking for an administrative job. He learned of the opening on the Internet and when he saw that the duties would include directing the area learning center, he was intrigued. "I enjoyed my time as the director of alternative studies … this seemed to be a perfect fit for what I was looking for," he explains.

So he applied for the job and after being interviewed, decided "if I was fortunate to get the job, I would move to Austin."

The job was offered to him Saturday and he started at AHS Monday.

Human Resources Director Julie Jensen says the district was impressed with Bergstrom because "he comes with administrative experience and that was something we were really looking for. He had been overseeing what was basically a school within a school, which is similar to the ALC."

She adds, "jobs come down to fit and he had a style that seems to be a good fit with AHS. We see him as a team player who brings strengths to the table that will be complimentary to what we have now."

Bergstrom says he's looking forward to the position. "They were looking for someone to direct and guide the ALC program and I'm more or less overseeing what a great group of people are doing so far."

Of course, trying to sell his home in Fergus Falls and relocate his wife, Lisa and daughters Breonna, 8 and Hannah, 6 to Austin along with starting his new job immediately has been somewhat hectic. However, he says he's taking it in stride.

"It's been a little overwhelming, but that comes with being the new person," he says. "I've met a lot of just tremendously nice people. I'm really looking forward to the school year. It's been a wonderful experience so far."

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com