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Anoka-Hennepin leadership changes heading into 2016-17 school year
Retirements and new career opportunities have resulted in a number of leadership changes throughout the Anoka-Hennepin School District in the run-up to the 2016-17 school year.
The most notable change follows the June announcement by Dr. Jinger Gustafson, the associate superintendent for middle schools, that she was leaving the district in August to pursue an opportunity with Minnesota State University, Mankato, at their Edina campus.
With her departure, Superintendent David Law and the School Board restructured the district’s leadership to make it more efficient and flexible, and provide stronger leadership to the district’s student services and special education departments.
Gustafson’s associate superintendent role, which included oversight of all six middle schools, and the student services department, has been restructured. As a result, Jeff McGonigal’s role has been expanded and he is now the associate superintendent for secondary education, which will add Anoka-Hennepin’s six middle schools to the high school and secondary programming he already oversaw.
In addition, on Aug. 15, Anoka-Hennepin hired Cory McIntyre to serve as executive director of student services, a newly created position, which will offer executive-level leadership for the district’s special education department, as well as the student services department, Title IX programming, student mental health support services, integration and equity, and others.
Most recently, McIntyre had a similar role as director of student services in the North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale school district, a position he held for three years. Previously, he was the director of student services in the Hudson, Wisc., and Rochester, Minn., school districts. He began his career in education as a school psychologist and has also worked as a special education coordinator and assistant director of student support services.
Along with those changes, two other administrative leadership roles were created.
Dr. Kari Rock, who was most recently principal at Northdale Middle School, has been named director of elementary schools. She will report to Dr. Mary Wolverton, associate superintendent for elementary schools, and help Wolverton manage the district’s 24 elementary schools. In addition to serving as principal at Northdale, Rock spent a combined six years as principal at Riverview Elementary School before it was re-purposed, and then Eisenhower Elementary School.
Meanwhile, Patrick Duffy, who was most recently director of leadership development with St. Paul Public Schools, has been named director of secondary schools, and will help McGonigal manage the district’s six middle schools, five traditional high schools, and other secondary schools and programming. Duffy will begin Sept. 1. Prior to his role in St. Paul, Duffy was a K-8 principal with Minneapolis Public Schools, and an assistant principal in Edina.
Anoka-Hennepin also has two new building principals for the 2016-17 school year.
Northdale Middle School
Jeff Leach has been selected as the principal for Northdale Middle School, filling the role Rock left for her new position. Leach was most recently an assistant principal at Nicollet Junior High School in the Burnsville/Eagan/Savage School District, a position he held for seven years. Prior to that, Leach was an assistant principal and dean of students in the Clark County School District, in Las Vegas, NV, for four years. Prior to his administrative experience, Leach was an English and social studies teacher.
Blaine High School
Jason Paske has been appointed as the interim principal for Blaine High School (BHS) for the 2016-17 school year. Paske is a familiar face to students, families and staff at BHS. Most recently, he has been serving as an assistant principal at the school — something he’s done since 2011. Before that, from 2002 to 2006, he was a math teacher at the school.
He takes over for John Phelps, who announced in August that he was resigning his position as principal for personal reasons.
In the spring, the district will conduct a search for a new, permanent principal for BHS.
Interim principals become permanent
In addition to the new principal positions, three principals who served in interim roles during the last school year have had their interim titles removed.
Ann Herlofsky is now the principal at Adams Elementary School. Herlofsky was named interim principal last year, and was previously an assistant principal at Andover and Rum River elementary schools.
George Vasil is now the principal at Hoover Elementary School. Vasil was named interim principal at the school last summer, and previously was an assistant principal at Evergreen Park Elementary School, a position he held for two years.
Chris Forrest is now the principal at Wilson Elementary School. Forrest was named the interim principal at the school last summer, and was previously an assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary School.
Assistant principals
In addition to new principals, Anoka-Hennepin’s schools will also have a number of new assistant principals who are either new to the district, new to their administrative role, or new to the buildings they’ll be at for the 2016-17 school year.
Elementary schools:
Liz Burgard has been selected as the next Community Education parent involvement coordinator, following the retirement of Linda Rodgers. Burgard most recently was the district’s volunteer services coordinator. Prior to that, Burgard worked for Opportunity Partners for five years, where she coordinated and supervised volunteers and collaborated with corporate and community partners to further the work of the organization.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is one of Minnesota's largest, serving approximately 38,000 students and 248,000 residents. Spread out across 172-square-miles, the district is made of 13 suburban communities, and has 24 elementary schools, six middle schools and five high schools, with more than 8,000 employees who are dedicated to preparing all our students for life.
The most notable change follows the June announcement by Dr. Jinger Gustafson, the associate superintendent for middle schools, that she was leaving the district in August to pursue an opportunity with Minnesota State University, Mankato, at their Edina campus.
With her departure, Superintendent David Law and the School Board restructured the district’s leadership to make it more efficient and flexible, and provide stronger leadership to the district’s student services and special education departments.
Gustafson’s associate superintendent role, which included oversight of all six middle schools, and the student services department, has been restructured. As a result, Jeff McGonigal’s role has been expanded and he is now the associate superintendent for secondary education, which will add Anoka-Hennepin’s six middle schools to the high school and secondary programming he already oversaw.
In addition, on Aug. 15, Anoka-Hennepin hired Cory McIntyre to serve as executive director of student services, a newly created position, which will offer executive-level leadership for the district’s special education department, as well as the student services department, Title IX programming, student mental health support services, integration and equity, and others.
Most recently, McIntyre had a similar role as director of student services in the North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale school district, a position he held for three years. Previously, he was the director of student services in the Hudson, Wisc., and Rochester, Minn., school districts. He began his career in education as a school psychologist and has also worked as a special education coordinator and assistant director of student support services.
Along with those changes, two other administrative leadership roles were created.
Dr. Kari Rock, who was most recently principal at Northdale Middle School, has been named director of elementary schools. She will report to Dr. Mary Wolverton, associate superintendent for elementary schools, and help Wolverton manage the district’s 24 elementary schools. In addition to serving as principal at Northdale, Rock spent a combined six years as principal at Riverview Elementary School before it was re-purposed, and then Eisenhower Elementary School.
Meanwhile, Patrick Duffy, who was most recently director of leadership development with St. Paul Public Schools, has been named director of secondary schools, and will help McGonigal manage the district’s six middle schools, five traditional high schools, and other secondary schools and programming. Duffy will begin Sept. 1. Prior to his role in St. Paul, Duffy was a K-8 principal with Minneapolis Public Schools, and an assistant principal in Edina.
Anoka-Hennepin also has two new building principals for the 2016-17 school year.
Northdale Middle School
Jeff Leach has been selected as the principal for Northdale Middle School, filling the role Rock left for her new position. Leach was most recently an assistant principal at Nicollet Junior High School in the Burnsville/Eagan/Savage School District, a position he held for seven years. Prior to that, Leach was an assistant principal and dean of students in the Clark County School District, in Las Vegas, NV, for four years. Prior to his administrative experience, Leach was an English and social studies teacher.
Blaine High School
Jason Paske has been appointed as the interim principal for Blaine High School (BHS) for the 2016-17 school year. Paske is a familiar face to students, families and staff at BHS. Most recently, he has been serving as an assistant principal at the school — something he’s done since 2011. Before that, from 2002 to 2006, he was a math teacher at the school.
He takes over for John Phelps, who announced in August that he was resigning his position as principal for personal reasons.
In the spring, the district will conduct a search for a new, permanent principal for BHS.
Interim principals become permanent
In addition to the new principal positions, three principals who served in interim roles during the last school year have had their interim titles removed.
Ann Herlofsky is now the principal at Adams Elementary School. Herlofsky was named interim principal last year, and was previously an assistant principal at Andover and Rum River elementary schools.
George Vasil is now the principal at Hoover Elementary School. Vasil was named interim principal at the school last summer, and previously was an assistant principal at Evergreen Park Elementary School, a position he held for two years.
Chris Forrest is now the principal at Wilson Elementary School. Forrest was named the interim principal at the school last summer, and was previously an assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary School.
Assistant principals
In addition to new principals, Anoka-Hennepin’s schools will also have a number of new assistant principals who are either new to the district, new to their administrative role, or new to the buildings they’ll be at for the 2016-17 school year.
Elementary schools:
- Denise Schnabel, 10-month assistant principal, Adams Elementary School.
- Matthew Brain, 12-month assistant principal, Evergreen Park World Cultures and Community School.
- Lisa Newberger, 10-month assistant principal, Jefferson Elementary School.
- Scott Mattis, 10-month assistant principal, Monroe Elementary School for mathematics, science and children’s engineering.
- Jessica Wippler, 12-month assistant principal, Rum River Elementary School.
- Diedre Bloemers, 10-month assistant principal, University Avenue Elementary School for aerospace, children’s engineering and science.
- Steven Drewlo, 12-month assistant principal, Blaine High School.
- Susan Flemming, interim 12-month assistant principal, Blaine High School.
- Julie Yager, 12-month assistant principal, Champlin Park High School.
- Jennifer Jones, 10-month assistant principal, Champlin Park High School.
- Michael Driscoll, 12-month assistant principal, Northdale Middle School.
Liz Burgard has been selected as the next Community Education parent involvement coordinator, following the retirement of Linda Rodgers. Burgard most recently was the district’s volunteer services coordinator. Prior to that, Burgard worked for Opportunity Partners for five years, where she coordinated and supervised volunteers and collaborated with corporate and community partners to further the work of the organization.
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is one of Minnesota's largest, serving approximately 38,000 students and 248,000 residents. Spread out across 172-square-miles, the district is made of 13 suburban communities, and has 24 elementary schools, six middle schools and five high schools, with more than 8,000 employees who are dedicated to preparing all our students for life.