Deitte adjusting to life in bigger school; still feels close connection to Minneota

Among the throng of fans attending the Section 3A girls' basketball semifinal and championship games at SMSU in Marshall was former Minneota Superintendent Dan Deitte, who made the 100-mile trip from Hutchinson to support the Vikings.
"It's always nice to come back and see everyone," said Deitte, who is in his first year as Superintendent of Schools in Hutchinson. "I've always liked to get out in the community and show support. I've been working hard to do that in Hutchinson, too."
Deitte's wife, Jennifer Mahan-Deitte, is still the elementary principal at Minneota Public School. After Dan took the Hutchinson position, the Deittes sold their home in Minneota and Jennifer moved into an apartment in Marshall. Dan currently lives in a townhouse with the family dog, Peanut, in Hutchinson.
Mahan-Deitte recently submitted her resignation to the Minneota School Board and will finish out the school year before joining her husband. She is actively seeking an administrator's position in and around Hutchinson.
Deitte, who was superintendent in Minneota for 14 years, applied and, after an interview process, was hired for that same position with the Hutchinson School District beginning with the 2022-23 school year. As superintendent, Deitte oversees five schools in the Hutchison School District, including a high school, middle school and three elementary schools. He works out of a separate building on the east side of town with 15 others that include finance personnel, directors and secretaries.
The elementary schools house students by grades with one building having kindergarten and first graders, another with those in second and third grade, and the other with fourth and fifth graders. The middle school is for grades 6-8. Each school has its own principal and staff. There is also a program for special education students that are 18-21 years of age.
"I really work hard to be visible, be a communicator, and work well with the staff, students and community," said Deitte. "Being in a separate building makes it a little harder than I was used to. But I've made 40-50 classroom visits so far this year, and I read to 35 classrooms during 'I Love to Read Month' in February."
Deitte also is adjusting to going from 520 students where it was much easier to get to know each and every one of them, as compared to the 2,650 students in Hutchinson.
"The reason I took this job was that we've always talked about eventually migrating closer to the Twin Cities area because most of Jen's family is there," said Deitte. "And now that all three of our daughters (Ivy, Sienna and Olivia) are out of the house, we felt it was the right time."
Deitte still has fond memories of his time spent in Minneota.
"Fourteen years was a long time to be there. I still feel connected there because Jen still works there and she keeps me informed of things going on," he said. "I go back there on some weekends. I remember one time we went over to the school and it was neat because I got a chance to really look around and see all the changes, as far as the building, that had been made during my time there. I hope everything goes great for them and they get everything they need to keep being successful."
Deitte was able to attend the Minneota Homecoming football game. And he found it ironic that he was able to watch both the Hutchinson and Minneota state championship football games on the same date and same field last fall.
"I watched the Minneota (Class A) game, then left for four hours to do some other things, and then came back and watched the Hutchinson (Class 4A) game," he said. "It was a little ironic that the two schools I have been (superintendent) at both played for the state championship."
Deitte said he keeps plenty busy during the week attending games, events and meetings in Hutchinson.
"I live a pretty simple life without Jen around," he said. "I look forward to her joining me here."