Andy Traetow is seen here, in front of the Fairmont Caridnals logo. Traetow was recently hired as the Fairmont School District Superintendent

FAIRMONT — Andy Traetow has held several positions at Fairmont Area Schools and is about to take on one more: Superintendent. Traetow officially assumes the new position on Monday.

Traetow was born and raised in South Dakota but graduated from Jackson County Central in 1999. From there he went to Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated with a degree in elementary education and a middle school science endorsement.

When asked why he chose to go into education, Traetow said he was always interested in teaching and attributes it to the teachers and mentors he had growing up.

“They set an example for joy of learning and being involved in school. I had some high school teachers and coaches that encouraged me to be engaged in volunteering with youth activities and that really followed me through high school and even college,” Traetow explained.

For Traetow’s first position he taught for three years in the Jackson County Central School District and in the fall of 2007, he started his professional journey at Fairmont Area Schools.

“I started as a fourth-grade teacher. I did that for two years and then taught sixth-grade science for four years,” Traetow said.

He then finished up his getting his administrative degree through St. Mary’s University.

“The school district at the time had just expanded the administrative team and added a dean of students position at each building so I ended up accepting the dean of students role at the high school,” Traetow explained.

He held that role for one year and then accepted a position as assistant principal at the high school, which he held for a few years.

“My last two years at the high school I was principal of grades 7 and 8 and the vocational programs,” Traetow said.

Most recently, for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years, Traetow was co-principal at Fairmont Elementary School.

In the summer of 2018, Traetow began taking coursework to get his superintendent license.

When asked why he wanted to obtain the licensure, Traetow said he’s looked up to a lot of leaders in his life who have motivated him to continue his journey and continue to find ways to grow.

In late July, Fairmont’s superintendent of 11 years, Joe Brown, announced his intention to retire from the district one year earlier than originally expected. Traetow was hired by the Fairmont School Board during a special meeting on July 20.

Traetow’s professional journey through Fairmont Area Schools has been unique. In addition to holding roles as a teacher, dean of students and principal in both school buildings, Traetow has also spent time coaching in the Fairmont Area School District. He’s been a football, basketball, baseball and golf coach.

“I am very fortunate to have had all of those experiences and been able to draw on those differing perspectives as I work with parents, students and staff members. I see it as a definite benefit as I transition into this role,” Traetow said.

Traetow has also been able to draw on the experiences of his own family, in which there are 22 current or retired educators working in roles all over the board from classroom teachers to administrators and paraprofessionals. Traetow’s wife, Michelle, is a first-grade teacher at Fairmont Elementary. The couple has four children, a freshman, seventh-grader, fourth-grader and kindergartner.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside our school board, students, staff, as well as our community to continue to make progress with the ultimate goal of providing the best educational experience possible for our students,” Traetow said.

Traetow said he hopes to strengthen relationships and connections that are already established, as well as build new ones that haven’t been ventured into.

“This is my 19th year in education and I’m blessed to wake up every day and tell people I don’t feel like I’ve had a bad day yet. There’s always opportunities for learning and growth,” Traetow said.