Kittilson selected as new elementary principal in Colfax
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The Colfax Board of Education has selected fifth grade teacher Tristan Kittilson as the new principal at Colfax Elementary to replace Trevor Hovde, who plans to retire at the end of the school year.
The school board met in closed session the evening of March 27 to consider candidates for the elementary principal position.
Ashley Goulet, the school district’s administrative assistant, sent an e-mail message to the Colfax Messenger the morning of March 28 to say that the Board of Education had selected Kittilson as the new Colfax Elementary principal.
The Colfax Messenger does not have any information about other candidates who may have been interviewed for the position.
Hovde began his duties as principal at Colfax Elementary in the fall of 2011.
The Colfax Messenger contacted Todd Kragness, president of the Colfax Board of Education, for comments about Kittilson regarding his new position at Colfax Elementary.
Kragness said he had forwarded the request to William C. Yingst Jr., district administrator, for comment.
“The School District of Colfax has completed its search for the next elementary principal. I would like to congratulate Mr. Tristan Kittilson who will be the successor of Mr. Hovde. We wish Mr. Kittilson and Mr. Hovde all the best in the future,“ Yingst wrote in an e-mail message sent out March 27 which was addressed to “All” and was forwarded to the Messenger the morning of March 31.
The Board of Education hired Tristan Kittilson and his wife, Carly Kittilson, in June of 2021.
Tristan was hired to teach fifth grade at Colfax Elementary, and Carly was hired to teach second grade.
The Kittilsons taught in the Glenwood City school district for more than 10 years before coming to Colfax.
Their family includes two sons and two daughters.
Both Kittilsons have extensive experience as coaches. Carly served as the Glenwood City girls varsity basketball coach, and Tristan served as the head boys’ basketball coach.
Carly Kittilson grew up on a dairy farm in the Boyceville school district and earned a Bachelor of Arts and teaching certification from UW-Parkside.
Tristan Kittilson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, with a minor in mathematics, from UW-River Falls.
In the Glenwood City school district, Tristan Kittilson also served as the head golf coach, the varsity assistant football coach and the junior varsity boys basketball coach.
Both Kittilsons have served as junior varsity basketball coaches at Colfax.