Aaron Hungerholt is the new principal at LeRoy-Ostrander Independent School District.

Stop before saying “There’s a new sheriff in town.”

Don’t even think it.

Hungerholt is more than just the “enforcer.”

Much more.

True, Hungerholt’s office is where, traditionally, no student wants to visit.

But, who knows? A visit to the office could be an enlightening experience for student, teacher, support staff and others.

Words like “teamwork” and “opportunities” will punctuate the conversation.

As the new school year begins, Hungerholt is optimistic about the future.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said in a telephone interview this week. “The office staff, the teaching staff — everyone has been very, very helpful in making the adjustment.”

Steve Sallee, Hungerholt’s predecessor, left the LO job to become Southland’s new superintendent.

Hungerholt is a native of Rushford, where he graduated in 1991.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato and a master’s degree at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Ariz.

Then, it was back to Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he earned his K-12 principal’s certification.

Before taking the L-O principal’s job, Hungerholt taught core programs last year to at-risk student at Stewartville Middle School, where he also coached girls basketball and softball.

He also taught at a Las Vegas middle school, where he was also dean of students.

And, Hungerholt taught at a Las Vegas elementary school before moving up to the middle school work.

Before that, he taught fifth- and sixth-grades at Lanesboro.

Now, the L-O job.

Larry Tompkins, the former Southland school superintendent, is the interim chief administrator in the L-O school district this year.

“I feel fortunate to work with Larry Tompkins. I’m learning a lot,” Hungerholt said.

The L-O district’s projected enrollment for the 2008-09 school year is 173 in grades 6-12 and 120 elementary (kindergarten through fifth-grade) students.

Wherever Hungerholt goes today, he helps bolster school enrollment.

He and his wife, Amy, have triplets: Trey, Trent and Haley — second-grade students.

The couple also has a 16-month–old son, Camden.

Amy, a stay-at-home mother and former kindergarten teacher, is expecting a baby in January.

If the new principal has a philosophy as an educator it revolves around “teamwork.”

He played sports in high school, basketball in college and coached high school sports, so hearing the word “teamwork” coming from Hungerholt is not unexpected.

“I grew up with athletics being a part of my life,” he said. “And I learned how teamwork is a key to being successful both in sports and in life.”

With such a cross-section of today’s children and teenagers — students at-risk, mainstream students, small towns and a big city — Hungerholt has “been there, done that” as a teacher and an administrator.

“I think the key today in education is giving students opportunities,” he said. “Helping them stay focused on school by creating or showing them new opportunities.”

“And, I really believe today’s students are looking for opportunities like that,” he added.

While he was in Las Vegas as an administrator of a middle school, “Eighty-five percent of my duties involved discipline.”

How did he handle that challenge?

“First, you establish the rules and then you enforce them and crate consequences when those rules are broken,” he said. “It’s called ‘progressive discipline.’

“If you lay the groundwork then they —- everyone, teachers, families and students — know the consequences they are easier to enforce,” he said.

Hungerholt is the first in his family to become an educator and, obviously, he relishes the opportunity — there’s that word again —- to make a difference in the lives of students.

“I like the challenges there are in the job,” he said. “And I like helping students and making school a better place.”