Hemiller accepts shared superintendent job

Maroon and Gold will always have place in Nate Hemiller's heart even after his "colors" change.

The Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School principal will swap titles this summer when he officially becomes shared superintendent at East Sac County and Ar-We-Va. Hemiller, who's been with H-M-S since 2016, recently accepted the new position after careful consideration.

"I have really enjoyed serving the H-M-S district and knew that someday I would make the transition from principal to superintendent," he said. "I just did not know when or where, but wanted to ensure our next home would be the right fit for me and my family."

A bit of peer pressure helped guide the decision. Hemiller and his wife, Jenna, have friends who reside in the East Sac County district.

"When this position opened, they contacted me and urged me to apply," he said.

The H-M-S High School principal post was Hemiller's first administrative role in his education career. Prior to coming to Hartley, he spent nine years at North Iowa Community School District in Buffalo Center, where he served as high school science teacher, activities director and multi-sport coach.

Hemiller was proud of several accomplishments during his time at H-M-S. He helped lead the high school's improvement on the Iowa School Report Card and Iowa Assessment Scores, which went from "School In Need of Improvement" in 2016 to "High Performing" in 2018. He also cited a positive culture shift at the high school as well as staff recruitment, technology upgrades and curriculum changes as highpoints of his H-M-S legacy.

"I will miss working with the awesome group of educators that H-M-S has in this district," he said. "We have a great culture, awesome facilities and great students. I have nothing but gratitude for Superintendent Patrick Carlin and his leadership over the past five years."

Hemiller's tenure also overlapped with two failed bond issues and the final successful one in 2018, which led to sweeping facility upgrades at H-M-S.

"Having the high school attached to the elementary school is special and creates a great opportunity for the H-M-S students to have positive interactions," he said. "It is a great school system, and I am thankful for my time here."

A big slate awaits Hemiller in his new role. As shared superintendent, he will oversee roughly 1,000 students – approximately 770 at East Sac County and around 225 at Ar-We-Va.

East Sac County consists of Sac City, Lake View, Wall Lake and Auburn, while Ar-We-Va consists of Arcadia, Westside and Vail. Hemiller said he was eager to learn more about each community and the people that comprise them.

"My goal is to use my experience as an educator to positively impact and lead both districts to a place that is best for students, families and the communities I serve," he said.

Hemiller reiterated that the H-M-S community will always hold a special place in his family's heart. Jenna helped create the H-M-S Giving Tree, which distributes gifts to local children in need during the holidays, and both of his daughters are currently students at H-M-S.

"My time here at H-M-S has been rewarding and enjoyable. Over the past seven years I have worked hard for and observed so many positive changes within the district," he said. "We will miss the community and friends, along with our coworkers."