Ulrich, a West Bend native, was hired to replace Doug Van Zyl, who took a superintendent position with the St. Joseph School District in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Ulrich was the superintendent of the AHSTW School District in Avoca for the past five years.

He formerly served as the superintendent/principal in Graettinger-Terril; student services coordinator and seventh-grade teacher in Dallas-Center Grimes; and high school social studies teacher in Arizona.

Ulrich lived in Fort Dodge for five years while obtaining degrees and certifications from Iowa Central Community College and Buena Vista University — Fort Dodge campus.

During that time he worked at Rabiner Treatment Center.

“I am very familiar to Fort Dodge and the dynamics of the community,” Ulrich told The Messenger in a previous interview. “That was also what drew me because I know, especially in the last 15 years, Fort Dodge has really taken off with the economic growth and the progressive mentality that they have. We really view it as a great place to bring our family and raise them.”

He becomes the 10th superintendent in the district’s history since the early 1900s.