Scott Fitzsimonds, the new WMHS principal

It took most of the summer and much careful discussion, but the Watertown Mayer School District has found its man to succeed the departed Scott Gengler as Watertown Mayer High School principal.

At a special meeting of the Watertown-Mayer Board of Education Tuesday, Aug. 4, the board chose Scott Fitzsimonds to be the new principal. Fitzsimonds had worked as a principal, activities director and technology coordinator in the Lester Prairie School District since 2007.

“We are very pleased that we were able to hire Mr. Fitzsimonds as the Watertown-Mayer High School Principal,” said district superintendent Karsten Anderson. “Mr. Fitzsimonds is student-centered and will strive to work with all district stakeholders. He also brings a strong curriculum and data analysis background, which will help our school district continue to improve and meet ever-increasing academic expectations.”

Prior to his experience at Lester Prairie, Fitzsimonds was employed as a band director in the Floodwood and Albert Lea school districts. He received his bachelor's degree at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. His master's degree and his degree in administration are from St. Mary's University.

He also served in the U.S. Marines from 1987 to 1991, where he performed with the Marine Drum and Bugler Corps. All of these experiences should be useful to him as he begins leading the students and staff at WMHS.

“Watertown-Mayer has a tradition and history of excellence,” Fitzsimonds said. “ The culture of the schools is one where high standards and expectations are the norm. Immediately, my goal is to get to know people and the systems in place. I plan to continue with the great programs and initiatives that are in place, and hope to bring additional opportunities to the students, staff and community.”

The role of a high school principal is one Fitzsimonds embraces and respects for the impact it can have on students now and in their future.

“I define the role of a high school principal as the educational and instructional leader of the school, as well as a role model to the students, staff, and community,” he said.

“I also believe a high school principal needs to model the traits that are important for our students as they prepare to move to the next stage of their lives.”

Fitzsimonds' hiring came after a committee consisting of administrators, high school staff members, and community members interviewed three finalists for the position on Aug. 3. The other two finalists were Bob Hennen, a current teacher and head boys basketball coach in the Watertown-Mayer School District, and Paul Sparby, the current high school and elementary school principal in the NRHEG School District in New Richland.

The board had debated in June the ideas of assigning Watertown-Mayer Middle School principal Jon Anderson to serve as the secondary school principal for grades 6-12, hiring a secondary school dean of students for grades 6-12, and consolidating the middle and high school offices.

Ultimately, the board agreed with the Personnel Committee's recommendation to hire a high school principal with a salary in the range of $85,000-$100,000 per year.

Fitzsimonds replaces Scott Gengler, who left the district in June to take the job of principal at Irondale High School in the Mounds View School District. Gengler spent eight years as principal in Watertown.

Fitzsimonds began work at Watertown Mayer High School on Monday, Aug. 10.

Outside of school he said he loves spending time with his wife of 21 years and their two children, ages 4 and 6. He also enjoys camping, woodworking, fishing, roller blading, and motorcycling.

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