kermit Eastman

Kermit L. Eastman, graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947 after serving in the U.S. Navy and returning to attend high school in January of 1946.  He has had a distinguished career in the field of Education.

Mr. Eastman attended the University of North Dakota for one year and then attended Moorhead State College where he majored in Elementary Education.  He began his teaching career in Fargo, North Dakota with a two year diploma and continued to attend summer sessions at Moorhead State College to complete his Bachelor of Science Degree.  From 1955 to 1959 Mr. Eastman was the Director of Elementary Education in Thief River Falls, where he assisted in the planning of the Washington Elementary School and provided leadership in reviewing and developing curriculum guides in all areas, kindergarten through grade six. He personally developed the curriculum for a class for trainable mentally challenged children and the class, which was one of the very first in the state, was started in the Fall of 1959.  

Mr. Eastman received his Master of Science Degree in Secondary Education from the University of North Dakota in 1959 and became the Director of Elementary Education for St. Cloud Public Schools.  In 1966 Mr. Eastman was named the Assistant Superintendent of St. Cloud Public Schools and in 1969 he became the Superintendent where he remained until his retirement in 1983.  As a school administrator, Kermit’s exceptional talent was immediately recognized.  His many skills included leadership, planning, organizing, and following through.  He was stern yet sensitive, quick yet patient, academic yet down to earth.  He was extraordinary! Under his leadership the St. Cloud School District delivered a strong education program while maintaining unusually effective fiscal management.  Mr. Eastman was also instrumental in the founding of what is now the St. Cloud Area Learning Center.  

After his retirement, Mr. Eastman utilized his fiscal and management abilities in his work with a large St. Cloud-based development firm and was elected  to the St. Cloud School Board where he served for six years.  Mr. Eastman is one of those rare public servants whose dedication and concern for his fellow citizens and community were matched by equally impressive results where it counted.

Mr. Eastman and his wife of more than 60 years raised two children and now live on their hobby farm near Sauk Rapids, Minnesota.