Cardinal superintendent to take new job in July

ELDON – Cardinal Superintendent Joel Pedersen has announced he will step down at the end of this school year to take a different job.

Pedersen announced that he become the chief administrator at the Central Rivers Area Education Agency based in Cedar Falls. Pedersen will replace Sam Miller, who will retire in August after leading the agency since 2016. Pedersen will begin his duties July 1, 2023.

According to a news release from Central Rivers AEA, Pedersen will oversee more than 500 full- and part-time staff members who provide special education and school improvement services along with technology and media support for over 62,000 students and 5,000 educators throughout 18-counties of north central and northeastern Iowa.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Mr. Pedersen to his new role,” said Dr. Debra Rich, Central Rivers AEA board president. “He brings an incredible amount of experience, passion and skill that will continue to move our agency forward in service to children, families and educators in the 18 counties of Iowa that we serve.”

“I know the AEA’s power firsthand,” said Pedersen. “I am excited and humbled to begin working at Central Rivers AEA, learning more about the agency and finding ways to contribute my skills to the team. I look forward to working alongside such a talented and committed staff.”

Pedersen told The Union he plans to move his family to the Cedar Falls area when his new job begins. He said he is proud of what the Cardinal Community School District has accomplished since he became its superintendent in 2010. He said the thing he’s most proud of is creating a school that families are students are proud to belong to.

Counting the improvements planned for next year, Cardinal will have completed about $20 million in infrastructure improvements in the last decade.

“That would not have been possible without the patrons of the district,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen said he is especially glad to see Cardinal’s enrollment continue to rise. In the past 10 years, enrollment has increased 55 percent, which makes Cardinal the sixth fastest growing school district in Iowa by percentage.

“Families are choosing to send their kids to Cardinal, and that’s a testament to our support staff and school board,” Pedersen said. “My hope is that Cardinal will continue to be a place where people want to go, and continue to be a great place for kids and families. I’m eager to help whoever replaces me to be successful.”

The news release from Central Rivers AEA states that, before coming to Cardinal, Pedersen previously held positions as principal and director of special education services at Davis County Community School District. He taught numerous elementary grades and coached various sports during his time as a teacher.

Pedersen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University; a Master of Science degree in Education Administration and Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, both from Drake University.

Central Rivers AEA, with service delivery centers in Cedar Falls, Clear Lake, and Marshalltown, is the largest AEA in the state in terms of geography and the number of school districts served.

“The mission of the agency is to provide educational leadership, services and support to positively impact children, families and educators within the local school districts served,” stated the news release from the agency.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com