New principals at Taylors Falls, Sunrise River

There’ll be new prinicpals greeting students when school starts Sept. 3 at elementary schools in both the North Branch and Chisago Lakes school districts. 

~Lori Zimmerman is taking charge at Sunrise River School in North Branch, with Jason Hartmann leaving over the summer for a position at the Centennial Dist. ~Jason Riebe succeeds Joe Thimm, who was principal for 12 years at Taylors Falls Elementary School. Zimmerman has been with North Branch Area Schools for 24 years, most recently as director of curriculum and she also coordinated alternative education program. She has had three daughters in North Branch schools. She was hired as a fourth grade instructor when beginning her career at North Branch and said she is excited to be back working primarily with elementary students and their families. She and Hartmann worked closely to transition leadership, she says. 

Riebe is moving on from his assistant principal job at Chisago Lakes Middle School to lead Taylors Falls Elementary. Riebe has worked as school psychologist for a time at Taylors Falls so he’s familiar with the facility. He has been at the middle school for three years. And, Ryan Carlson takes Riebe’s place at the Chisago Lakes middle school. Carlson comes from Chaska, where was an administraive dean. He also taught Health and Physical Education for 10 years prior to shifting gears into school administration. Lori Zimmerman, no picture available.