Brenda Wade Schmidt
Enterprise

A Minnesota educator who grew up in Flandreau has been approved as the new superintendent in the Colman-Egan School District.
Brian Corlett’s three-year contract was accepted unanimously Friday at a special meeting of the school board. He will begin the job July 1 in preparation for the 2019-2020 school year.
Corlett, who is the superintendent of the 1,200-student Central Public Schools in Norwood Young America, Minn., near the Twin Cities, will replace Tracey Olson, who is retiring at the end of this school year after five years in the position.
In January, Corlett was one of three finalists for the superintendent position in Cloquet, Minnesota.

Corlett lived in Flandreau through 8th grade before moving to Iowa. His father, Darrell, taught biology in Flandreau, and his mother, Gloria, was a homemaker.
He also looks forward to coming back to the area because of family.
“Colman-Egan came across as having a very strong push for high student achievement, which was the main point of interest for me,” he said. “I would like to be able to assist the process of continually improving the educational programs for the students at Colman-Egan to prepare them for continued success in their future endeavors, whether that be college, technical school, armed services or the world of work.”
Corlett will earn $85,000 plus benefits in the first year of the contract and no less than $87,000 by the third year.
The Colman-Egan board interviewed four candidates from a larger pool of applicants and paid Dakota Educational Consulting $4,000 to search for the new superintendent.
Board members liked Corlett’s 16 years of superintendent experience and his values when it comes to academics, said Mary Beth Zwart, board president.
“We had a very qualified applicant pool,” she said. The search process began in September, far ahead of the normal superintendent search season which usually begins in January. “The programming he’s been able to implement within his own district, I think he can bring and share that here.”
Corlett graduated from Mount Marty College and completed his education specialist degree at the University of South Dakota in 2004. He and his wife, Jennifer, an elementary teacher, have one son, Logan, who is a college freshman.
Corlett enjoys golfing, fishing, reading and helping his wife foster dogs.
He has been an educator since 1984, teaching physical education and history, and an administrator for 24 years, eight as a principal in South Dakota, Alaska and Nebraska and two as the Bon Homme superintendent and 14 at Central Schools. He also taught at Dakota State University and Huron University.
Although his current district is much larger than Colman-Egan, there are some things that don’t change when it comes to learning.
“I have found that students are learners when motivated in any state. I have also seen wonderful teachers throughout the United States, due to the fact that their chosen profession becomes a passion for them,” he said.
Zwart said the board is looking forward to Corlett becoming a member of the community.
“We’re just really excited to have him on board and bring his experience into our building to continue to help our district grow and serve our students,” she said.