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)

(12/07/2022) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board selected Cory McIntyre as the next superintendent of the Anoka-Hennepin School District. The selection was made following a first-round of interviews Nov. 29 and 30, and day-long final interviews with district/community stakeholders and School Board members Dec. 6 and 7. 

“Anoka-Hennepin Schools has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a belief that all students can learn at high levels,” McIntyre said. “I believe the mission and vision of the District is a match with my philosophy of education, and my skills and abilities as a leader.”

McIntyre is currently serving as superintendent of Osseo Area Schools. He began his career in education serving as a school psychologist in Blue Earth Area Schools in Minnesota, and both the Kent and Auburn School Districts in Washington. 

Prior to his selection as a superintendent in 2019, McIntyre served as associate superintendent and executive director of student services at Anoka-Hennepin Schools since 2016. McIntyre came to Anoka-Hennepin after serving as the director of student services in North St. Paul - Maplewood - Oakdale Independent School District 622 for three years. He led the student services department in the Hudson School District in Wisconsin from 2009-2013, and served as the executive director of special education in Rochester Public Schools from 2005-2009. McIntyre also previously served as the assistant director of student services, special education coordinator and school psychologist at the Auburn School District in Washington.

“When I was working at Anoka-Hennepin three years ago, I really loved the staff’s focus on achievement and the commitment to students,” McIntyre said. “I wasn’t looking for a change, but the work I did here was the most challenging and the most rewarding I’ve ever done. It’s a special place to me, personally, and I see the amazing opportunity in returning to the district.”

The district is set to enter contract negotiations with McIntyre. The new superintendent is expected to begin service on July 1, 2023. 

Background
The superintendent of schools position became available in Anoka-Hennepin when former superintendent David Law was selected to lead the Minnetonka Public School District in April 2022 following an extensive search and recruitment process. The Anoka-Hennepin School Board elected to fill the seat with an interim superintendent while beginning a full search process, with Dr. Kate Maguire leading the district for the 2022-23 school year. 

(12/06/2022) Anoka-Hennepin Schools continues its search for the next superintendent with finalist interviews scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 6 with Dr. Jeffery Ridlehoover and Wednesday, Dec. 7 with Cory McIntyre. 

The Anoka-Hennepin School District has a tradition of stability in leadership, with this being the tenth superintendent selected since the district was formed in 1952. At that time, citizens living in 26 smaller districts in Anoka County and five districts in Hennepin County voted to consolidate to form the Anoka-Hennepin School District. The list of superintendents includes:

• Morris Bye served from July 1, 1943 - June 30, 1964, seeing the district through the consolidation process in 1952. 

• Erling Johnson served from July 1, 1964 - June 30, 1975.

• Lewis Finch served from July 15, 1975 - June 30, 1990.

• Robert Gander served as interim superintendent from July 1, 1990 - Jan. 31, 1991.

• Douglas Otto served from Feb. 1, 1991 - July 21, 1995.

• Dr. Roger Giroux served from June 27, 1995 - Dec. 31, 2008.

• Dennis Carlson served as interim superintendent from Jan. 1 - Jun. 30, 2009; continuing on as superintendent until June 30, 2014.

• David Law served as superintendent from July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2022.

• Dr. Kate Maguire was selected as interim superintendent effective Jul. 1, 2022 with a contract through Jun. 30, 2023.

The superintendent of schools position became available in Anoka-Hennepin when former superintendent Law was selected to lead the Minnetonka Public School District in April 2022 following an extensive search and recruitment process. The Anoka-Hennepin School Board elected to fill the seat with an interim superintendent while beginning a formal permanent search process, with Maguire selected to lead the district for the 2022-23 school year. 

Selection process
The two finalists will participate in a day-long series of focus groups with students, paraeducators, teachers, principals, administrators, cabinet members and other district staff following a tour of the district. Members of the public are invited to meet the candidate on the day of their interview and provide feedback from 5:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. during an open community meeting. Then, the School Board will hold a special meeting to review feedback from the focus groups and conduct the second interview session beginning at 7:15 p.m.

The community meeting and special School Board meeting/interviews are open to the public and take place at the district’s Educational Services Center (ESC), located at 2727 N. Ferry St. in Anoka, enter at Door 7.  

The School Board is expected to select a preferred candidate for the superintendent position following the interviews on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7 and will begin contract negotiations at a later date. The new superintendent is expected to begin service on July 1, 2023. 

The Anoka-Hennepin School Board has worked in partnership in the superintendent search with School Exec Connect, a search and consulting firm that specializes in supporting school boards in recruiting and evaluating candidates for leadership positions such as superintendents, central office administrators and principals. The firm has both a local and national reach and also supported Anoka-Hennepin Schools in the last superintendent search process in 2014. Learn more about the process at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch.

(11/30/22) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board selected finalists and established a final round of interviews in their search for the next superintendent. 

• Dr. Jeffery Ridlehoover, current superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephens Schools in Sartell, Minn.
  Interview scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:15 p.m.
  
  

• Cory McIntyre, current superintendent of Osseo Area Schools in Maple Grove, Minn.
  Interview scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7:15 p.m.

Finalists will participate in a day-long series of focus groups with students, paraeducators, teachers, principals, administrators, cabinet members and other district staff following a tour of the district. Members of the public are invited to meet the candidate on the day of their interview and provide feedback from 5:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. during an open community meeting. Then, the School Board will hold a special meeting to review feedback from the focus groups and conduct the second interview session beginning at 7:15 p.m.

The community meeting and special School Board meeting/interviews are open to the public and take place at the district’s Educational Services Center (ESC), located at 2727 N. Ferry St. in Anoka, enter at Door 7.  

The School Board is expected to select a preferred candidate for the superintendent position following the interviews on Tuesday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Dec. 7 and will begin contract negotiations at a later date. The new superintendent is expected to begin service on July 1, 2023. 

Follow the Superintendent Search webpage for updates about the process at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch.

The search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a search and consulting firm that specializes in supporting school boards in recruiting and evaluating candidates for leadership positions such as superintendents, central office administrators and principals. The firm has both a local and national reach and also supported Anoka-Hennepin Schools in the last superintendent search process in 2014.

More about the finalist candidates:

• Dr. Jeffery Ridlehoover is currently serving as superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen Schools in Sartell, Minn. Additional experience includes serving in Mounds View Public Schools for a total of eight years as assistant superintendent and principal of Mounds View High School, and nine years as assistant principal at Wayzata High School. Ridlehoover is also currently an adjunct professor of education at Hamline University. Ridlehoover began his experience in school administration as an administrative intern at Oak View Middle School in the Anoka-Hennepin School District in 2003.
  
  

• Cory McIntyre is the current superintendent of Osseo Area Schools in Maple Grove, Minn. McIntyre spent three years at Anoka-Hennepin as assistant superintendent and director of student support services. He came to Anoka-Hennepin in 2016 after serving as the director of student services in North St. Paul - Maplewood - Oakdale Independent School District for three years. Other areas of experience include serving as the executive director of special education in Rochester Public Schools, and in leadership positions in the areas of student services at both Hudson School District in Wisconsin and Auburn School District in Washington.
  
  

(11/28/22) The Anoka-Hennepin School Board approved candidates and established an interview schedule in its search for the next Superintendent at a special School Board meeting Nov. 28. 

• Dr. Jeffery Ridlehoover, current superintendent of Sartell-St. Stephen ISD 748 in Sartell, Minn.
  Interview scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m.

• Dr. Yeu Vang, current assistant superintendent in Saint Paul Public Schools in St. Paul, Minn.
  Interview scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6:15 p.m. 

• Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, current superintendent of Seguin Independent School District in Seguin, Texas.
  Interview scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

• Dr. Teri Staloch, current education consultant and former superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools in Prior Lake, Minn.
  Interview scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 5 p.m.

• Cory McIntyre, current superintendent of Osseo Area Schools in Maple Grove, Minn.
  Interview scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 6:15 p.m.

The interview sessions are open to the public and will take place at the district’s Educational Services Center (ESC), located at 2727 N. Ferry St. in Anoka, enter at Door 7.  

The School Board is expected to name finalists for the superintendent position following the interviews on Wednesday and is expected to schedule full-day interviews for finalists on Dec. 5, 6 and 7. The decision on a preferred candidate for superintendent is expected either Dec. 6 or 7. The new superintendent is expected to begin service on July 1, 2023. 

Follow the Superintendent Search webpage for updates about the process at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch.

The search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a search and consulting firm that specializes in supporting school boards in recruiting and evaluating candidates for leadership positions such as superintendents, central office administrators and principals. The firm has both a local and national reach and also supported Anoka-Hennepin Schools in the last superintendent search process in 2014.

(11/23/22) At a special school board meeting Monday, Nov. 28, the Anoka-Hennepin School Board will approve a list of initial recommended candidates to interview in its search for the next superintendent of the school district.

Candidate names will be public once approved by the School Board at 6:30 p.m. First round interviews are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Nov. 29 and conclude the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 30. Follow the Superintendent Search webpage for updates about the process at ahschools.us/superintendentsearch.

The search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a search and consulting firm that specializes in supporting school boards in recruiting and evaluating candidates for leadership positions such as superintendents, central office administrators and principals. The firm has both a local and national reach and also supported Anoka-Hennepin Schools in the last superintendent search process in 2014.

(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.