The Storm Lake Community School District is bringing a familiar educator back to the community, naming Dr. Stephanie Anderson as the next principal of Storm Lake Elementary School beginning July 1.
Anderson returns to Storm Lake with more than two decades of experience in classrooms and district leadership.
She’s currently the superintendent of the Riverside Community School District, where she’s been responsible for carrying out the district’s long‑range mission, strengthening instruction from preschool through high school, and building stronger connections between schools, families, and community partners. Colleagues there credit her with improving alignment across buildings and helping teachers work more consistently toward shared academic goals.
Before leading Riverside, Anderson served as director of elementary education and student services for the Fort Dodge Community School District. In that role, she helped implement a comprehensive multi‑tiered system of supports, worked to align curriculum across grade levels, and coached principals to strengthen classroom instruction. Her background also includes time as both an elementary principal and assistant principal.
For Storm Lake families, Anderson’s return carries added significance: she previously taught first and fourth grade in the Storm Lake district. Administrators say that familiarity with the community, combined with her leadership experience, made her stand out in the search process.
Superintendent Dr. Stacey Cole says the district is excited to welcome her back, noting that Anderson’s blend of superintendent‑level experience, elementary leadership, and classroom teaching reflects a strong commitment to instructional quality and community engagement. Cole says those strengths will serve students, staff, and families well as the district continues to grow.
Anderson holds a Ph.D. in school technology leadership from the University of Kentucky, along with a superintendent certification and a PreK‑12 administrative endorsement.
She will succeed longtime principal Barb Lange, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
