Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Joyce Daugaard, Douglas DeWitt, Robert Duncan, Nadine Jacobson, and Timothy Jaech to the Board of the Minnesota State Academies.

Joyce Daugaard, of Edina, currently works at the University of Minnesota where she is active in the training of future teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students. Prior to joining the University in 1997, she served for twelve years as the Coordinator of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program for the Minneapolis Public Schools. From 1977 to 1984, Daugaard served as a teacher at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) in Faribault.

Ms. Daugaard received a B.S. in Education, Speech Communication, and English from the University of South Dakota, and a M.S. in Deaf Education from the University of Oklahoma. She is appointed to a Board position for a member of the general public with business, administrative, or financial expertise. Daugaard will serve a term which ends January 2, 2006. She replaces Dale O'Brien on the Board.

Douglas DeWitt, of Nevis, currently serves as the Superintendent of Nevis Public Schools. He previously served as the Principal of Burnsville High School, and as the Principal for Alternative Education in the San Bernardino County (California) Superintendent of School's Office. DeWitt also previously served as a fixed term assistant professor at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Bethel University.

Dr. DeWitt received a B.A. in History and a M.A. in Education from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. He also received a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. DeWitt is appointed to the Board position for a current or former superintendent of an independent school district. He will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. DeWitt replaces Richard Berge on the Board.

Robert Duncan, of New Brighton, currently serves as the Superintendent of St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools. He previously served as the Superintendent of Schools for three other Minnesota school districts: Fergus Falls, Thief River Falls, and Mountain Iron-Buhl. He also served as Assistant Superintendent for a cooperative of eight rural school districts in southeast Minnesota. In this capacity he served as the director of special education for all eight districts.

Dr. Duncan received a B.S. in Education from Moorhead State University, a M.A. in Education Administration from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and a Ed.D. in Education Administration from the University of North Dakota. He is reappointed to the Board position for a current or former special education director. Duncan will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. He was first appointed to the Board in 2000 and currently serves as the Board's chair.

Nadine Jacobson, of Edina, is a homemaker and mother. She previously served as a Braille Instructor for BLIND, Inc. in Minneapolis. Jacobson also previously worked for the Hennepin County Human Services Department in nursing home contract compliance and foster care licensing. She previously served as both President and Vice President of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) Alumni Association.

Ms. Jacobson received a B.A. in Psychology and Social Work from the College of St. Catherine and a M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota. An alum of MSAB in Faribault, she spent eleven years there as a student. Jacobson is appointed to the Board position for a member of the blind community. She will serve a term which ends January 3, 2005. Jacobson replaces Mark Sathe on the Board.

Timothy Jaech, Faribault, retired in 2003 after serving as a School Administration Consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. From 1992 to 1996, he served as Superintendent of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delavan, Wisconsin. Jaech also served as High School Principal for the California School for the Deaf in Riverside, California. He began his education career as a teacher at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD) in Faribault.

Mr. Jaech received a B.S. in Education of the Deaf from Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., and a M.A. in Administration and Supervision in Education from the National Leadership Training Program at California State University, Northridge. He is appointed to the Board position for a member of the deaf community. Jaech will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007. He replaces James Potter on the Board.

The Board of the Minnesota State Academies governs the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, both in Faribault, Minnesota. The board is made up of nine members, including six appointed by the Governor.