The Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency announced on Monday that its board of directors have selected a new chief administrator, who will take over after current chief Jeff Herzberg steps back at the end of June.

Dr. Susie Meade, superintendent for the Winterset Community School District since 2012, will replace Herzberg, who announced his resignation earlier this month. Herzberg, who served as chief administrator for the AEA since 2010, plans to return to the classroom as a teacher and coach.

“We were committed to finding a person with the experience, skills and vision to lead our agency into the future,” said Sue Brown, Prairie Lakes AEA board president. “Dr. Meade is highly respected for her commitment and passion for education. The families, educators and students served by Prairie Lakes AEA will benefit from her leadership.”

Prior to her current role as superintendent of the WCSD, Meade was an assistant superintendent for the Ankeny School District, an elementary principal in Arizona, director of special education in West Des Moines and as an elementary classroom teacher in the Fort Dodge Community School District.

It’s her experience in the classroom that inspired Meade to apply for the administrator position.

“My love and background is in special education and that’s one of the main roles of the AEA, to support students, families and schools to ensure that all kids have a high-quality education,” she said.

Meade is also a native of Clarion and is looking forward to moving back to the area, she said.

Meade’s expansive background working in the education system has primed her for the job with Prairie Lakes, which serves 14 counties in north central Iowa, including 38 public school districts and 11 state accredited non-public schools.

“I’ve had some experience in large systems as well,” she said. “I know the trials and tribulations of rural school districts, but I also know and understand how to lead a large system.”

As a school administrator, Meade was wanting to make a bigger, wider impact in schools.

“The work that Prairie Lakes has done in the area of social emotional learning and mental health is also a very important part of the work that we’re doing in Winterset, so I felt like I could influence and support school districts beyond the Winterset school district,” she said.

Meade is ready to get to know and understand the “unique needs and successes” of all the school districts within the AEA.

“I’m really looking forward to the relationship-building, helping people problem solve and ensure that our kids get what they need to be successful,” she said.

As the AEA’s chief administrator, Meade wants to help schools and districts find ways to better support students who struggle with behavior and other needs.

“I’m hoping that I can help lead the way as far as some collaborative programs, so that districts don’t have to replicate it district by district, but we can work together to ensure that we have some programming that really meets the needs of some very, very specific students,” she said.

Overall, the 32,000 students in the AEA are Meade’s No. 1 priority.

“We’ll be just working to really focus on ensuring that our kids are college, career and life ready by the time they graduate from high school,” she said.

Meade will start as chief administrator July 1.