The Superintendent should be a person who:

• Will work with the diverse communities and district personnel to create consensus and support for the varying needs of our students and quality educational opportunities.
• Understands and can address the academic, social, and emotional needs of the wide variety of students served in the district, allowing all students to reach their potential and to have multiple options upon graduation.
• Is of high integrity, trustworthy, possessing excellent interpersonal skills,  approachable, friendly, and available to staff and community.
• Is an experienced, visionary/motivational leader who collaborates well with all staff, community, and business leaders to guide the district towards excellence for students and is capable of implementing that vision.
• Has a strong understanding of school finance, budget, facilities and operations, and can lead the district in maintaining a stable financial course, while advocating at the legislature for adequate, equitable and stable funding.
• Communicates well and frequently in person, and in written form, via traditional and electronic options. They should communicate with the staff, community, and parents, listening and considering input as they work in a collaborative manner.
• Be able to communicate decisions with transparency and clarity explaining the how and why of a decision.
• Has experience in a diverse, large, complex, district with achievements that show the ability to work with staff to implement curriculum, assessment, and individualizing instruction, to reach the goal of raising all student achievement while closing the achievement gap.
• Has the ability to work on critically difficult issues using an open, transparent, inclusive process which allows people to know their voice is heard and considered.
• Is an integral member of the community, and committed to their respectful inclusion in the problem-solving processes which will positively impact the school district and the community.
• Has demonstrated the ability to create a collaborative and respectful relationship with the School Board for effectively carrying out the vision and mission of the district.
• Understands and can effectively address the needs of students of diverse backgrounds including race, culture, different abilities, and experiences of each in their community.

View the profile developed by School Exec Connect in response to extensive community feedback and input collected in the summer and fall of 2022. (PDF)

(09/16/2022) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is seeking community input as they begin the process of hiring a new superintendent. Community input meetings are set for Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at both Champlin Park High School and Coon Rapids High School. Stakeholders can select the meeting site that is the most convenient, they will both follow the same format.   

Dr. Kenneth Dragseth and Dr. Antoinette Johns from the firm School Exec Connect will organize the meeting to determine the strengths, challenges, and the characteristics or skills to search for in the next superintendent. Additionally, anonymous written feedback can be provided to the consultants by completing a survey at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch. This information will be used to develop a profile of the desired skills and characteristics in the next superintendent. All replies will be anonymous. Please submit feedback by Oct. 4. 

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board will conduct interviews and complete the superintendent hiring process by early December. The new superintendent will begin service with the 2023-24 school year.

September 12, 2022

Dear Anoka-Hennepin Schools Stakeholders:

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board is seeking your input as we begin the important responsibility of hiring a new superintendent.

Dr. Kenneth Dragseth and Dr. Antoinette Johns from the firm School Exec Connect will meet with board members, school district staff, parents, students, and community members individually and in focus groups to determine the strengths, challenges, goals for our district and the characteristics or skills you would like to see in a superintendent. Additionally, our staff and community members will have the opportunity to give anonymous written feedback to the consultants via a link from our district website beginning September 12, 2022. Using this information, we will develop a profile of the desired skills and characteristics in the next superintendent.

The position will be advertised, and candidates will be recruited, beginning in August and the School Board will determine which candidates to participate in first-round interviews on November 28, 2022. The Board will interview four to six recommended candidates on November 29 and 30  and is expected to narrow the field to two or three finalist candidates at that time. Each finalist will be invited for an all-day interview process on December 5, December 6 and December 7, and the selection of a preferred candidate to serve as the new superintendent is expected on Dec. 7, 2022. 

The process for selecting a new superintendent will include feedback from interviews conducted by committees made up of staff, parents, and community members as well as a final formal Board interview. Feedback and considerations from an online survey will also be provided to inform decision making by the School Board.  

You may choose to give your anonymous feedback to us beginning September 12, 2022 by accessing the Anoka-Hennepin Schools website at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch and completing the survey form. All replies will be anonymous. Please submit feedback by Oct. 4, 2022. 

Please feel free to contact Ken Dragseth at 952-210-2790 or Toni Johns at 612-309-1511 if you have any questions regarding the search. We look forward to your assistance in this search process and believe that your input will help us make the best possible choice for your next superintendent.

Sincerely,
Board of Education, Anoka-Hennepin Schools
Marci Anderson, Chair
Nicole Hayes, Vice Chair 
Erin Heers-McArdle, Treasurer
Jeff Simon, Clerk
Kacy Deschene, Director
Matt Audette, Director

(08/23/2022) The School Board of the Anoka-Hennepin School District seeks an exemplary superintendent with a strong educational vision and in-depth understanding of education and finance to lead Minnesota’s largest school district.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District is one of Minnesota's largest, serving approximately 38,000 students, 7,500 staff, and 248,000 residents. Spread out across 172 square miles, Anoka-Hennepin is an increasingly diverse district serving 13 suburban communities north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Anoka-Hennepin has 26 elementary schools, six middle schools (grades six through eight), and five traditional high schools, plus alternative middle and high school sites, in addition to an award-winning Community Education program.

Anoka-Hennepin has highly trained teachers and staff and an engaged parent community. The district has a strong reputation for outstanding educational programs with emphasis on the use of student-centered learning environments and data driven decision-making.

There is a collective focus on raising achievement in order to prepare our students to be globally competitive.

Anoka-Hennepin provides families with educational options, including a number of specialty (magnet) schools and the highly regarded Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP). 

The district has been recognized for outstanding financial management and accountability to the public for informed use of district resources. 

The Superintendent provides leadership and strategic vision for the organization in the areas of academics, finance, and operations.  

A competitive salary and compensation package will be offered. The position will begin on or before July 1, 2023.

Inquiries and applications may be made to School Exec Connect at www.schoolexecconnect.com or contact Antoinette Johns at 612-309-1511, almonster05@msn.com  or Ken Dragseth at 952-210-2790, mdragseth@comcast.net .

(06/14/2022) Dr. Kate Maguire has been selected to serve as interim superintendent for the Anoka-Hennepin School District for the 2022-23 school year pending approval of contract terms and conditions.

Dr. Maguire served as superintendent of the Osseo Area Schools District 279 from 2010 to 2018 which capped 36 years of dedicated service to District 279 schools. Maguire also served as assistant superintendent, director of curriculum, director of instruction and educational standards, director of human resources, principal of Brooklyn Junior High School, assistant principal of Maple Grove Junior High School, an assistant administrator at Osseo High School and teacher during her tenure in District 279. Maguire was honored as Minnesota’s Superintendent of the Year in 2014. 

Dr. Maguire holds her educational doctorate, education specialist and master’s degree in organizational leadership and administration from the University of St. Thomas, with an undergraduate degree from the College of St. Benedict. Maguire is expected to begin service as interim superintendent in July.

(06/13/2022) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board will interview three candidates for the position of interim superintendent for the 2022-23 school year on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14.

Monday, June 13

• Dr. Michelle Langenfeld

Tuesday, June 14

• Dr. Mark Bezek
• Dr. Katherine Maguire

Interviews begin at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at Sandburg Education Center, 1902 Second Ave. in Anoka.

Following the interviews, the School Board will consider naming an Interim Superintendent of Schools for the 2022-23 school year. School Board meetings are open to the public. 

For updates and more information on the Superintendent Search process, visit ahschools.us/superintendentsearch.

(06/09/2022) Two special School Board meetings will take place Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14, with interim superintendent candidate interviews on the agenda. One candidate will be interviewed Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m., and two candidates will be interviewed on Tuesday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings take place at Sandburg Education Center, 1902 Second Ave. in Anoka. In accordance with data privacy laws, the names of the candidates selected for interviews will be made public after the School Board names them as finalists on June 13. Candidate names will be released June 13.  

Following the interviews, the School Board will discuss the interviews and will consider naming an Interim Superintendent of Schools for the 2022-23 school year. School Board meetings are open to the public. 

For updates and more information on the Superintendent Search process, visit ahschools.us/superintendentsearch. 

(05/18/2022) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board met May 16 for a special school board meeting to discuss plans and a timeline for naming an interim superintendent for the 2022-23 school year. 

Candidates are currently in the process of being recruited by School Exec Connect, a national search and consulting firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring for school leadership positions, and will coordinate the process with the School Board. Candidates interested in the interim superintendent position may apply on the School Exec Connect website by June 3, 2022.

The School Board plans to narrow the field of candidates to four or fewer, which will be interviewed at a public School Board meeting Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14. The School Board intends to name a preferred candidate at the meeting June 14, and finalize contract negotiations at a regularly scheduled board meeting Monday, June 27. The interim superintendent will assume duties July 1, or as soon as possible, with possible opportunities for overlap with the current Superintendent of Schools, David Law.

(05/12/2022) At the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting May 9, Superintendent Search options were reviewed based on a presentation from Dr. Antoinette Johns from the executive search firm School Exec Connect. Opportunities for community feedback and timelines involving the search were discussed before the School Board endorsed a process to name an interim superintendent for the 2022-23 school year. 

The School Board will work with School Exec Connect to conduct a search process with the goal of hiring a new superintendent to start July 1, 2023. At a special School Board meeting on Monday, May 16, board members will again meet with Johns to discuss the hiring process for the interim superintendent.

(05/12/2022) At the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting May 9, Superintendent Search options were reviewed based on a presentation from Dr. Antoinette Johns from the executive search firm School Exec Connect. Opportunities for community feedback and timelines involving the search were discussed before the School Board endorsed a process to name an interim superintendent for the 2022-23 school year. 

The School Board will work with School Exec Connect to conduct a search process with the goal of hiring a new superintendent to start July 1, 2023. At a special School Board meeting on Monday, May 16, board members will again meet with Johns to discuss the hiring process for the interim superintendent.