Associate Superintendent
Eden Prairie School District
The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Dr. Stacie Stanley, Associate Superintendent of the Eden Prairie School District, the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award. Dr. Stanley received this award for exhibiting a willingness to risk, possessing strong communication skills, being a progressive change agent, and having high expectations for herself and others. She was honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference, March 12-13, 2020, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.
Dr. Stanley currently serves as the Associate Superintendent for Eden Prairie Schools. In previous roles, she has served at the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District as central office leader in Curriculum, Instruction and Equity, and Integrated Student Support Services, and at the East Metro Integration District as a Program Director for Equity and Integration. Prior to her central office leadership roles, she served as a building principal for the Roseville Area Schools for five years after working as a math specialist and teacher. Dr. Stanley also serves as an adjunct professor and doctoral advisor/chair for up and coming educational leaders at Bethel University.
Dr. Stanley has a continual focus and commitment in ensuring outstanding outcomes for each student and creating equitable learning experiences. Her leadership and work alongside those she serves and supervises contributed to increased graduation rates, decreased exclusionary discipline practices, and processes that improve options and connections with students. Dr. Stanley’s work has led the Eden Prairie School District toward culturally proficient leadership and practices, sound instructional design, positive and productive relationships and partnerships within the community, and innovation in district programming. She spearheads these projects and continually reflects and designs approaches that contribute to effective management of changes while also growing and developing those around her.
Specific examples of Dr. Stanley’s achievements include: community presentations that helped build buy-in and pass a bond with the highest approval rating in 25 years; the development of a grow your own program to develop future educators and diversify the district’s workforce; a design to lead community conversations around start times; building a partnership with the chamber of commerce, businesses, non-profits, and higher education institutions; collaboration with students, staff, and leadership to design a new middle school addition; and work to develop choice programming in the K-8 environment that will support inclusive schools as opposed to segregated schools often evidenced when specialty programs are designed.
“Dr. Stanley’s leadership has created opportunities for our students, families, and the community while bringing everyone around Eden Prairie’s mission to Inspire EACH Student Every Day,” said Josh Swanson, Superintendent of the Eden Prairie School District. “Dr. Stanley is an outstanding leader and partner. I personally appreciate her and her significant contributions to Eden Prairie Schools and to MASA. She is highly deserving of this recognition.”
Dr. Stanley is active in leadership roles for the Minnesota Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Metropolitan Principal Academy, and as an advisory board member for Hamline School of Education.
Dr. Stanley received her doctorate in Education from Bethel University and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the College of St. Catherine.
