Superintendent Search

The Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education conducted a six-month nationwide search with executive search firm BWP & Associates to hire the a new superintendent to lead SPPS. On December 19, 2024, the Board selected Dr. Stacie Stanley as the next superintendent. We are grateful to the community for providing valuable feedback throughout the superintendent search.

Dr. Stacie Stanley Will Join SPPS as Superintendent in May 2025

The SPPS Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Stacie Stanley’s employment contract as Saint Paul Public Schools’ next superintendent has been approved. Her first day will be May 12, 2025.

Dr. Stanley was selected as the preferred candidate for superintendent in December. Since then, she has worked closely with her current school district, Edina Public Schools, and SPPS on a transition plan and timeline. Dr. John Thein will continue serving as Interim Superintendent until she starts, and support Dr. Stanley and the Board on a smooth transition.

This is a special homecoming for Dr. Stanley, who grew up in St. Paul and will be the first SPPS graduate to become permanent superintendent. We look forward to welcoming her back to lead Saint Paul Public Schools.

“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools,” Dr. Stanley said. “Joining such a vibrant and dedicated community of students, staff, families and partners is both a privilege and a responsibility that I hold close to my heart. Together, we can create an inspiring educational environment where every student thrives. I am excited to collaborate with our dedicated school board and the wider community to fulfill our district’s mission and look forward to the transformative work ahead!”

We are excited to embark on this new chapter with Dr. Stanley. As we face challenges and opportunities, her experience, knowledge and deep commitment to St. Paul are not only needed but truly worth celebrating.

It is important to the Board and Dr. Stanley that she meets and gets to know students, staff and families after joining us in May. More information will be shared closer to her arrival.

Superintendent Search Timeline

*the following dates are subject to change
Date	Update
Feb. 26, 2024	Dr. Joe Gothard was selected as the next leader at Madison Metropolitan School District in Wisconsin.
April 3, 2024	Committee of the Board Meeting: The Board of Education approved an amendment to the end date of Superintendent Gothard's contract and approved a contract with Dr. John Thein to serve as Interim Superintendent .
May 2, 2024	The Board of Education posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit bids from executive search firms. The RFP was open for 30 days.
May 20, 2024	Dr. John Thein began his role as Interim Superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools.
June 4, 2024	Proposals for the executive search firm RFP closed. The Superintendent Search team comprised of Board and district leaders evaluated all bids.
July 9, 2024	Special Meeting of the Board: The Board interviewed three executive search firms and selected BWP & Associates to assist in hiring the next full-time superintendent. A recording of the meeting can be found here.
Aug. 7, 2024	Committee of the Board Meeting: BWP & Associates presented a 6-month search timeline to the Board and discussed community engagement methods. Meeting materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found here.
Sept. 3, 2024	BWP & Associates started recruiting and providing application information to potential superintendent candidates.
Sept. 23-Oct. 2, 2024	Community Engagement Activities: September 23-October 2: An online survey was available to all community members. September 30-October 1: BWP hosted in-person and virtual stakeholder meetings with various staff groups, community organizations, high school students, PACs, and community forums open to the public.
Oct. 8, 2024	Committee of the Board Meeting: BWP & Associates provided a report with the results from the community engagement activities and a draft of the leadership profile. Meeting materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found here.
Oct. 22, 2024	Regular Meeting of the Board: The Board approved the final draft of the leadership profile that includes the characteristics the SPPS community would like to see in the next superintendent. The leadership profile will be used to evaluate all superintendent candidates. Meeting materials and a recording of the meeting can be found here.
Nov. 5, 2024	Deadline for superintendent candidate applications.
Nov. 2024	BWP reviewed all superintendent applicants and conducted preliminary interviews. A task force was formed composed of three Board members, parents and community members from each of SPPS’s Parent Advisory Councils, representatives from three employee labor groups, two high school students and one district administrator.
Dec. 3-4 2024	The Superintendent Search Task Force conducted closed, first-round interviews with candidates. Per Minnesota state statute, applicant names are considered private data unless/until they are named a finalist for a position.
Dec. 5, 2024	Special Meeting of the Board: The Superintendent Search Task Force presented top candidates for Board approval. The Board selected the following finalists: Dr. Brenda Cassellius, CEO of Fresh Energy, St. Paul, MN Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent of Hopkins Public Schools, Hopkins, MN Dr. Stacie Stanley, Superintendent of Edina Public Schools, Edina, MN A recording of the meeting is available here.
Dec. 16-18, 2024	Each finalist visited the district for a full day between December 16-18. They visited schools and participated in virtual Meet the Candidate sessions with staff, parents/guardians and community partners. Public interviews with the Board were held at the SPPS administration building, 360 S. Colborne St., from 6-7:30 p.m. on each finalist's respective day. Recordings of the final interviews are available here. The Board started deliberations in a public meeting after the final interview on Wednesday, December 18.
Dec. 19, 2024	Regular Meeting of the Board: The Board resumed deliberations at the Regular Board of Education meeting and voted unanimously to select Dr. Stacie Stanley as the preferred candidate for superintendent. The offer is contingent on contract negotiations with the Board and Dr. Stanley, with plans to finalize a contract in January. A recording of the meeting can be found here.
Feb. 18, 2025	Regular Meeting of the Board: The Board has approved the employment contract for Dr. Stacie Stanley. Her first day as SPPS Superintendent will be May 12, 2025.