Teresa Hart is set to take over as Esko Public Schools' new director of business services starting July 1. Her responsibilities will include directing and administering the financial business affairs of the district, according to the school website.
The Floodwood resident works as the business manager for the Floodwood School District, and previously served on that district's school board for about a year.
Hart, 43, has three children enrolled in Floodwood schools and plans to commute to Esko. She said moving to the town is a potential long-term goal.
Hart’s career in academia began in 1998. Prior to her job in Floodwood, she worked at Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium in Duluth and at Willow River Area School.
She said she always had a goal of finding a position in the Hermantown or the Esko school districts. So, when the impending retirement of current Esko director, Janet Halonen, led to the opening of a position in the district, Hart decided to take her shot.
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“Those are some big shoes to fill,” she said. “I look forward to it.”
Hart shared that she is most excited about the financial stability that will be brought by Esko's rising enrollment numbers.
According to Superintendent Aaron Fischer, Hart was selected from a pool of five qualified candidates. He said the district is excited about bringing her onto the team, describing Hart as a “really good fit.”
The Esko School Board voted unanimously to hire Hart on Monday, April 12, citing her experience working in schools as the main reason behind their selection.
