Monticello tabs new elementary principal

The fact that voters in the Monticello Community School District have in the last decade approved the funding to build new school facilities was an indicator for Gina McConahay. 

She said it was validation that the decision to apply for Monticello’s elementary principal position was a good one. 

McConahay was introduced as the next elementary principal for the district starting in the 2026-27 school year. McConahay will replace Shannon Kehoe as principal at Shannon and Carpenter elementaries -- and later the new elementary school -- after Kehoe announced she will retire at the end of this school year. 

It will mark McConahay’s first job as a school administrator, though she has worked in the Linn-Marr School District as an instructional coach -- which she described as a liaison between teachers and district administrators. She said she’s excited to begin meeting people and learning the lay of the land. 

“Everyone I talked to (prior to applying) knows someone from the Monticello community, so I knew it was a strong district,” McConahay told the Express. “People spoke so highly of it … and the more I dug into the (district) website and saw the mission of the district, it was something that I felt would be a good fit.”

McConahay has been an instructional coach at Linn-Mar for the past six years, and prior to that she taught high school and middle school vocal music and also taught students in grades 6-8. She started her education career as a teacher in the Jesup (Iowa) Community School District.

McConahay, 33, said she enjoyed teaching and working with kids, but it was when she became an instructional coach that she developed a love for working more closely with her fellow educators. 

“When I got my master’s degree, I felt the pull to work with more adults,” she said. “That’s what first sparked my interest. Then when I got into the instructional coach position, it changed everything. Leadership excites me. I love to see things from the systems point of view.”

She said becoming a principal felt like the next natural transition. 

“That’s where my heart is now,” McConahay told the Express. “I like to support teachers and work with families.”

McConahay was officially hired as Monticello’s elementary principal March 4 after interviewing with a committee the previous week. She signed a two-year contract that includes a $100,000 annual salary.

School officials aimed to secure a principal early in the hiring cycle, said Monticello Superintendent Brian Jaeger.

He said McConahay presented herself confidently during the interview process and explained that she works with kids’ best interests on top of mind. 

“She values instruction in the classroom and she understands how to work with people,” Jaeger said. “She values a positive school culture and sets high standards for herself and others.” 

Indeed, McConahay touted her relationship-building skills that she has fostered over the years. 

“I’m a people person,” McConahay said. “I love working with different teachers and students and families. The community can expect me to be an open communicator who is honest and excited. I bring a lot of energy and will give it everything I have.”

McConahay said she and her husband, Mike, are searching for an acreage in Jones County to plant their roots. Their son, Sam, will enroll in kindergarten in Monticello in the fall. 

Jaeger said McConahay fits what the Monticello district looks for in its principals. 

“We want people with good character and strong leadership skills,” Jaeger said. “We want someone who can navigate a variety of situations and create positive outcomes … We are very excited for her to join the team in Monticello.”