In the case of Joe Brown and Austin, the saying "third time’s a charm" is true.

Thursday, June 15, 2000

In the case of Joe Brown and Austin, the saying "third time’s a charm" is true.

The Iowa native and 12-year Minnesota resident likely will replace Austin High School Principal Julia Espe, who resigned to take the principal’s position at Lakeville High School. Twice before, Brown applied to Austin, both times to Ellis Middle School. The first time he was offered the position, but couldn’t get out of his contract; the second time the Ellis principal’s position was awarded to the interim principal, now Principal Jeanne McDermott.

Unless something entirely unexpected happens, this time Brown will be Austin High School’s new principal. Brown was in Austin Wednesday to meet with Austin Public Schools Superintendent James Hess and to turn in his letter of intent. The hiring has to be formally approved by the Board of Education at its June 21 meeting before the appointment is official.

He comes well-educated about Austin. He tracked the district’s financial troubles last year and is well aware of the impact some of its cuts will have on the high school.

"I think the superintendent and the board are on the right track to getting the district solvent," he said. "They had to make some tough decisions, but I think they went about it the right way.

"Austin has a great educational tradition," Brown added. "I’m very pleased to be here."

Brown isn’t the only one who’s pleased. School board member Kathy Green was on the interview committee. She’s very happy with the selection.

"He has a lot of energy, a lot of care and concern for the kids," Green said. "I’m sure he will be a positive addition to the high school."

Brown estimated that he spends about 85 percent of his time in school outside his office.

"It takes folks about two weeks to get used to it," he said. "I like to be involved in as much as possible."

Although being a principal is Brown’s seventh career, one he’s been working at for the past five years, he said they all add up to a person passionate about public education.

Previously he’s been a musician, a worker in a fire hydrant factory, a teacher, an Iowa state senator who focused on education, a house painter and an expert in library automation software. He’s been a principal in Barnum, LeSueur-Henderson and, last year, at a K-12 charter school on the southside of Chicago.

"All my careers have led up to education," Brown said. "Music, politics, marketing, even fire hydrants. They’re all a part of schools."

Brown’s wife, Robin, is a photography and art teacher at Mankato West. The couple have a blended family of six children.