Elliott a finalist for Panorama superintendency

Kathy Elliott

Spencer Assistant Superintendent Kathy Elliott and Dr. Pam Ewell, the middle school principal at Grinnell-Newburg Community School District, have been named finalists for the superintendency at Panorama Community School District.

Of the over 30 individuals who submitted applications for the position being vacated by retiring John Millhollin, the district's superintendent since 1995, Panorama school board members narrowed the list of potential candidates to five, all of whom were interviewed Thursday.

While Ewell is scheduled to interview with district parents, students and staff members on Monday, April 27, Elliott will do the same on Tuesday, April 28. According to Gaylord Tryon of G. Tryon and Associates of Johnston, a decision and announcement are expected on Wednesday, April 29.

The 805-student school district in central Iowa, which has not had a female superintendent before, currently serves the communities of Panora, Linden, Yale, Jamaica and Bagley.

Elliott, who graduated with a bachelor's degree from Graceland University in 1982 and a master's in education administration from Iowa State University in 1993, received her superintendent's endorsement from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001.

She has served the Spencer school district for the last 13 years. 2008-09 marks Elliott's seventh year as its assistant superintendent. Before this, she was Spencer High School's principal for six years.

Prior to Spencer, Elliott served as the assistant high school principal and 7-12 curriculum director at Glenwood schools for three years; the shared curriculum director at Tri-Center schools in Underwood for one year; and the English, Spanish and psychology teacher at Guthrie Center High School.

The native of Lamoni has four children: Julie, who teaches second grade in Lamoni; Eric, a construction worker from the Guthrie Center area; Chad, a musician, artist and writer who resides in Coon Rapids; and Cherie Christ, a web communications manager at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.