Keystone Area Education Agency Finalizes New Leadership Structure with Selection of Barb Schwamman as Director of District and School Support
Elkader, Iowa – February 26, 2026
Keystone Area Education Agency is proud to announce a key piece of its reorganized leadership team, designed to enhance service and support for local schools. Barb Schwamman, Superintendent of Osage and Riceville Community School Districts, has been selected to serve in the newly created role of Director of District and School Support, effective July 1.
The selection of Schwamman for this role rounds out a strategic leadership transition. For the past two years, Keystone AEA has utilized a shared leadership model with Central Rivers AEA. This collaborative approach of sharing Stan Rheingans, Chief Administrator; Annette Hyde, Administrator of Special Education; and Tesha Moser-Zimmerman, Administrator of Educational Services, allowed both agencies to navigate a complex restructuring period with stability. With the upcoming retirement of Rheingans and departure of Moser-Zimmerman to be superintendent at Center Point-Urbana, the Agency was tasked with developing a modern, streamlined executive team. On July 1, Schwamman will begin her tenure working alongside Annette Hyde, who transitions from her role as Administrator of Special Education to Chief Administrator.
Schwamman will serve as a high-level partner to local administrators providing strategic leadership to ensure the purposeful integration of Keystone AEA’s Educational Services and Special Education Services in order to improve outcomes for all learners. This role is responsible for designing, aligning, and continuously improving Agency services to support districts and accredited nonpublic schools in closing achievement gaps, strengthening instructional systems, and advancing equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities.
“Adding Barb to our leadership team is a vital step in our restructuring and visioning,” said incoming Chief Administrator Annette Hyde. “By having a Director dedicated specifically to district and school support working alongside the Chief Administrator, we’ll be increasingly responsive, agile, and partner-focused. Barb has been a staunch supporter of AEA services and a supportive partner at Keystone and across the state. We are excited to hit the ground running on July 1.”
With the executive team finalized, Keystone AEA remains committed to providing the specialized expertise and instructional resources that Iowa educators and families rely on. This new structure ensures that as leadership transitions, the quality of support remains steadfast.
Barb Schwamman has been superintendent of the Osage Community School District since 2015 and shared superintendent at Riceville Community Schools since 2017. Prior to her superintendency Barb served as the PK-8 Principal at South Winneshiek for eight years. She serves on multiple advisory boards, the IHSAA Board of Control, SAI and RSAI. Barb and her husband have two grown children. In her free time she likes to garden, golf, and travel.