John Cain has been named the next superintendent at South Tama County schools. He is scheduled to begin work on July 1. -- News Chronicle File Photo

The South Tama County Board of Education has named Bettendorf elementary principal John Cain the next superintendent at South Tama County Community School District.

Cain was chosen out of a field of three finalists that also included Prairie Lakes AEA Director Lisa Hartman and Marshalltown High School Principal Jacqueline Wyant.

“I’m super excited to begin the relationship building in the community as your superintendent, because I can’t do this job without you,” Cain said in a recorded address to the community. “Two pieces that greatly excite me as your new superintendent include the diversity within the community and coming in a special time to really support the new middle school. What an exciting time to be part of the community.”

The process has included a community-wide survey, asking district residents to provide their input on the qualities and characteristics they would like to see in the district’s next leader. The board conducted semi-finalist interviews on March 22 and interviews with the three finalists on Tuesday, March 29.

Cain’s contract will be formally approved by the board of education at their April 4 regular meeting. The contract for the 2022-2023 school year will be for $160,000.

Cain will officially begin serving as superintendent of the South Tama County Community School District on July 1, 2022.

Outgoing superintendent Jared Smith has been with the district since 2018 and will be moving on to become the next superintendent at Waterloo Community Schools this summer.

The board of education contracted with Grundmeyer Leader Services, a Huxley-based consulting firm, to conduct the superintendent search.

Cain previously served as elementary principal and curriculum director in the Calamus-Wheatland CSD. He was also a quality learning consultant with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency and started his educational journey as an elementary teacher in the Clinton CSD.

Cain holds a master’s degree in technology from The Franciscan University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Illinois University. He also received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Teikyo Marycrest University and an associate degree from Clinton Community College.

In 2015, Cain earned an educational specialist certificate from the University of Iowa.

Cain currently resides in the Quad Cities with his wife Kathy who works as a realtor. They have three sons: Aaron of Denver, Colo., Kameron of Cedar Rapids and Keaton of Cedar Rapids. They have four grandchildren.

Cain said in his video statement that he and his wife plan on relocating to the “area.”