The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains names CEO

The Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Tim Lease as CEO. Lease has served as Principal of Camelot School in Brookings, South Dakota for the last three years. Lease said, "I am looking forward to leading the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains and working with the Board of Directors, Club staff, Club youth, and partners. I feel that my beliefs fit in perfectly with the mission and goals of the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Plains. I’m excited to join the Club on June 10th.”

“We are excited to welcome Tim as our CEO for the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains. His leadership, experience, and accomplishments as the Principal in Milbank, Brookings, and his other work experience, make him a great fit for the CEO position. Tim’s work at Camelot is evidence of his passion for youth work, business growth, and community support. He is knowledgeable, innovative, values relationships, building community, and is aware of the opportunities and challenges the Brookings, Yankton and Moody County communities face. Tim is prepared and eager to help our organization, members, and communities thrive,” said Board Chair, Larry Tidemann.

During his tenure as principal at Camelot, Lease has built his leadership style by creating strong relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community. He has also worked closely with his staff on the implementation of professional learning communities and focusing on current best teaching practices.

Prior to becoming the Camelot Intermediate School principal, Lease spent three years as the Koch Elementary School principal in Milbank. At Koch, Lease worked with Milbank Superintendent Tim Graf to open up the Bulldog Preschool. Also, he was active in the community as a member of the church council, youth and education board chair, child protection team, Junior Achievement board member, and volunteered to coach youth baseball and basketball teams.

Preceding Lease’s administrative experiences, he taught for six years in the Brookings School District in 5th grade at Hillcrest and Camelot. Before moving to South Dakota, Lease taught for eleven years in Minnesota as part of the Onamia School District. Eight of the years were spent teaching at the Mille Lacs Academy, which is a juvenile treatment center for at risk youth. During his time in Minnesota, Lease was also a very successful high school boys’ basketball and baseball coach. Lease stated, “I have dedicated my whole career to helping and empowering our youth. I have seen the amazing things that the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains has going. I’m looking forward to leading and making a positive impact on our youth in Brookings Flandreau, and Yankton.”

He holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration from South Dakota State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN.

“The search committee completed a nation-wide search and feels as though we have selected the person who not only has the necessary skills and background, but also will be a great fit for our communities. We would like to thank our search committee members for their diligent work in this search for our next CEO. We’re very excited to work with Tim and begin this new chapter at the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains,” said Search Committee Chair Reece Kurtenbach.