When students return to Sumner Elementary and Southgate Elementary schools, they will see two unfamiliar faces in principals' offices, and those faces won't belong to fellow students.

Austin Public Schools Superintendent Corrine Johnson said two candidates have been chosen to take over as principals of Sumner and Southgate, and the Austin School Board will finalize the decision at its Aug. 12 meeting.

Kim Howard, of Rochester, has accepted the principal position at Sumner. Howard graduated from the University of Minnesota - Moorhead with a bachelor of science degree in elementary and special education and earned her master's degree in educational leadership from Winona State University. She previously was a second grade teacher at Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School while completing her elementary principal practicum. She and her husband currently reside in Rochester.

Daniel Posthumas has accepted the principal position at Southgate.

Posthumas currently lives in Harlingen, Texas, where he served as an assistant elementary principal. A Minnesota native, Posthumas earned his bachelor of science degree in elementary education from St. Cloud State University and his master's degree in school administration from the University of Texas-Pan American. Posthumas, his wife and their two daughters will relocate to Austin soon.

Johnson said Howard and Posthumas were selected from a pool of about 70 candidates because their knowledge base, people skills and team-building skills "were just outstanding."

Johnson says Howard and Posthumas are looking forward to the new school year. "If enthusiasm and excitement play a role in how well they'll do, they'll be wonderful. They're so excited to get here, to get going and to get acquainted with the staff," she says.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com