Principal’s leave sets off chain reaction
Mary Bailey
Community Editor
Linwood Elementary Principal Roche Martin has been on leave since Sept. 25, and there is no set date for his return. The district has not released a reason for Martin’s leave, citing the Data Practices Act.
Nancy Rosman, who had just started a special education teaching job at Columbus Elementary, replaced him as acting principal in September.
Now Rosman has been reassigned, and the new plan to fill Martin’s post is setting off a domino effect.
Caldwell
Forest Lake High School Assistant Principal Jim Caldwell is now acting principal at Linwood Elementary. Caldwell, a licensed K-12 principal, has been in his job at the high school since 2008. His background, however, is in elementary education. After playing hockey at Bemidji State, he began his career in 1994 as an elementary teacher in Bemidji. In 1999 he took an elementary teaching job in Chisago Lakes. Caldwell has taught second, third and fifth grades.
“I’m really excited,” Caldwell said. “This is a phenomenal opportunity for me. The base of my teaching career was elementary.”
Junior High Activities Coordinator Aaron Forsythe will move into the assistant principal position at the high school.
Century Junior High physical education teacher Sherri Alm will fill in as junior high activities coordinator. Alm will continue as volleyball coach, but must be replaced as a junior high teacher. Currently substitute teachers are being hired.
Rosman
Rosman is now back in the classroom in Columbus. She has a master’s degree in special education and is a licensed superintendent, K-12 principal, director of special education, elementary teacher and special education teacher.
Last year she completed an administrative internship under the direction of District 831 Special Education Director Deb Wall and Superintendent Linda Madsen.
According to Communications Coordinator Ross Bennett and acting Human Resources Director Ron Spies, Rosman was desperately needed at Columbus Elementary for her teaching skills. In the middle of the school year, Spies said, it’s very difficult to find applicants for a special education teaching position.
Rosman was paid as a principal while in that role. Now she will go back to the teacher pay scale.
The return of Spies to his old job as human resources director is unrelated to Martin’s leave of absence. Instead, Spies came out of retirement to fill in for Donna Friedmann, who is on maternity leave.