Superintendent Search Finalists

SPPS Board of Education Selects Superintendent Finalists

(Dec. 5, 2024) We are excited to announce that the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education has selected three superintendent finalists. The final candidates were narrowed down from seven semifinalists who were interviewed by a task force of staff, parents, students and three Board members earlier this week.

The finalists for the SPPS superintendent position are:

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

The superintendent finalists all have deep educational experience and meet the values and characteristics our community identified earlier this school year. The Board feels confident in these candidates’ ability to understand the diverse needs of the Saint Paul Public Schools community and their potential to make a positive and lasting impact on our school district. We’re excited for the community to get to know these finalists in the coming weeks.

Each finalist will visit the district for a full day between December 16-18. They will visit schools and meet staff, students, parents and community partners followed by a public interview from 6-7:30 p.m. on their respective day. Final interviews will be held at the SPPS administration building, 360 S. Colborne St. All are welcome to attend or watch the livestream at spps.eduvision.tv/LiveSched.aspx. The schedule of which candidate will be interviewed on which day will be available next week.

The Board will deliberate in a public meeting after the final interview on Wednesday, December 18. If the Board does not select a preferred candidate for superintendent that evening, Board members will resume deliberation at the beginning of the Regular Board of Education meeting on Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 p.m., and announce the preferred candidate at that meeting. The new superintendent’s start date will be determined during contract discussions after winter break.

SPPS Superintendent Finalists

Dr. Brenda Cassellius

Dr. Brenda Cassellius

Dr. Brenda Cassellius is an experienced educator and public leader in large urban settings with more than 30 years of experience. She is currently CEO of Fresh Energy, a nonprofit organization that shapes bold policy solutions to transition Minnesota to a clean-energy economy.

Dr. Cassellius previously served as superintendent of Boston Public Schools, serving 50,000 students and over 10,000 staff, where she played a pivotal role in implementing a “Quality Guarantee” to ensure all students had access to clean drinking water, air conditioning, and a robust system of support for their well-being and academic achievement.

She served as Minnesota State Commissioner of Education for eight years under Gov. Mark Dayton; held leadership positions at Minneapolis Public Schools, East Metro Integration District, and Memphis City Schools; and started her career as a teacher in Saint Paul Public Schools.

Dr. Cassellius earned her doctorate in organizational leadership and policy from the University of Memphis. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a master’s in secondary education from the University of St. Thomas.

Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed

Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed

Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed is a committed educational leader who strives to find data-informed solutions to close opportunity gaps. She has been superintendent of Hopkins Public Schools since 2017, serving 6,900 students and over 1,000 staff. Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed has focused on advancing equity-focused programs and implementing the district’s strategic plan, Vision 2031, which includes hiring diverse staff, improving student performance to erase achievement gaps, and preparing students for college and careers.

She began her career as a teacher in Saint Paul Public Schools and has served in several leadership roles including associate superintendent at Monterey Peninsula Unified School District in Monterey, Calif.; director of leadership development at the District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, D.C.; and the inaugural board chair for the nonprofit Black Men Teach.

Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed holds a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University. She earned a master’s in education policy and administration from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a bachelor’s in psychology and teacher preparation from Yale University.

Dr. Stacie Stanley

Dr. Stacie Stanley

Dr. Stacie Stanley is a mission-driven leader committed to student and community engagement and educational equity. As superintendent of Edina Public Schools, serving 8,600 students and over 1,300 staff, she led the district’s strategic plan to create accelerated student achievement across all demographic groups, including a comprehensive literacy plan.

Dr. Stanley previously served as an associate superintendent at Eden Prairie Schools and has held school and administrative leadership roles in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191, Roseville Area Schools and East Metro Integration District. She is also the current president-elect of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, the statewide organization of education leaders.

Dr. Stanley earned her bachelor’s degree in K-8 elementary education and her master’s in education at St. Catherine University and holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Bethel University.