7 SLP Superintendent Semi-Finalists Announced

The St. Louis Park School Board has announced the names of the seven candidates still in the running to be the school district's next superintendent. 

Interviews with all seven candidates will be conducted by the School Board Wednesday and Thursday, May 1-2, in the school district offices at St. Louis Park High School. The candidates are as follows:

• Dr. Nettie Colins-Hart, Superintendent at Proviso Township High Schools in Forest Park, IL
• Ms. Tami Reynolds, Director of Special Services at St. Louis Park Public Schools in St. Louis Park, MN
• Dr. Efe Agbamu, Executive Director of the Office of Multilingual Learning at St. Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, MN
• Mr. Robert Metz, Principal at St. Louis Park High School in St. Louis Park, MN
• Mr. Clint Christopher, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Moline Public Schools in Moline, IL
• Dr. Nancy Rajanen, Superintendent at Waconia Public Schools in Waconia, MN
• Dr. Stephen West, Executive Director of Education Services at Eden Prairie Public Schools in Eden Prairie, MN

The seven semi-finalists will be narrowed down to either two or three finalists at the conclusion of Thursday's interviews, according to district officials. The remaining finalists will then be invited back for all-day interviews on May 7-9, which will include community interviews from 5-6 p.m. each day at the Middle School Gymnasium.  

According to the timetable initially outlined by the district, the School Board is expected to make a selection for the district's next superintendent on May 9, then take part in contract negotiations through May 22 at the latest. The School Board would likely take action on the contract at either its May 13 or May 28 meeting, with the new superintendent assuming regular duties on July 1.

This March, district officials, residents, instructors and School Board members worked together to generate a profile of the ideal superintendent candidate. That profile includes attributes like being "a visionary, strategic leader," possessing excellent communication skills, advocating for students supporting a focus on academic excellence and having a "strong understanding of school finance." The full profile is available on the district's website.

St. Louis Park Public Schools have been seeking a new superintendent after Dr. Debra Bowers announced she would be leaving the district this past January. Bowers' current contract runs through June 30, though she opted not to seek a renewal after nine years in the position. 

The district has been working with Highland Park, IL-based School Exec Connect to help in the superintendent search.

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