The Harrisburg School District is excited to welcome two new elementary principals for the 2025-26 school year.
Ms. Amanda Olinger has been named the next principal of Horizon Elementary. Amanda is currently the assistant principal at East Middle School, where she has served for the past two years. Prior to that, she spent six years as the assistant principal at North Middle School. Her experience and dedication to student success make her a great fit for Horizon Elementary.
Dr. Renee Anderson will serve as the new principal of Explorer Elementary. Dr. Anderson is currently the 6-12 principal in the Beresford School District, a role she has held since 2022. She also has deep roots in the Harrisburg community, having previously served as the counselor at Horizon Elementary. Her leadership and student-centered approach will be a tremendous asset to Explorer Elementary.
In addition, we are pleased to announce that Brian Jandahl has been hired as the district’s new Special Education Director for the 2025-26 school year. Brian has been serving as the Superintendent and Special Education Director at the Elkton School District for the past 14 years, bringing a wealth of experience in leadership and special education services to Harrisburg.
As we look forward to these new additions to our leadership team, we also want to express our deepest gratitude to Lori Jeffers (Special Education Director), Doug Eppard (Explorer Elementary Principal), and Lisa Garrett (Horizon Elementary Principal) for their years of dedicated service as they retire. Their impact on our students, staff, and community has been immeasurable, and we wish them all the best in this next chapter.
Please join us in welcoming Amanda, Renee, and Brian to their new roles and in celebrating the contributions of our retiring staff members.