St. Paul schools are ready to choose the next superintendent

On By Littum

After more than six months of searching, St. Paul school board members Thursday night to announce the district’s next superintendent.

Three finalists – Brenda Cassellius, Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed and Stacie Stanley – all have experience running school systems. All three are women of color.

Cassellius served as Minnesota’s education commissioner under Gov. Mark Dayton and spent several years leading Boston Public Schools.

In her public interview this week, Cassellius said her own background and experience growing up in Minneapolis as a single mother meant it was important to her to work with children from diverse backgrounds, saying she would “pay that forward and waking up every day to make a difference for children.”

Mhiripiri-Reed has led the Hopkins Public School district since 2017. In her interview with the board on Monday, she talked about why she sought the top position at St. Paul Public Schools.

“I think this work to transform outcomes for students — especially those who have historically been marginalized and failed by their public school system here in this wealthy country — I think this work requires a moral compass,” Mhiripiri said – Reed. “I have the moral compass.”

Stanley is currently the superintendent of Edina Public Schools. In her public interview on Wednesday evening, she spoke about her experience attending St. Paul public schools as a student and his leadership style.

“I am community-oriented. I have been successful in engaging with the community regardless of the community I am in. I say there are four things that define my leadership, and the first thing is to deeply anchor myself in the community in which I serve. St. Paul is my community because I grew up here,” said Stanley.

The board’s election will take the helm of the state’s second-largest district, with a $1 billion budget and nearly 70 school buildings serving more than 33,000 students.

Among the challenges the new superintendent will face is reconciling a large budget deficit that could involve cuts beyond the reductions to custodial, food service and other programs the district maintained in 2024.