We are proud to announce that the first cohort of the MASA Advanced Leadership Academy has officially completed the program!
The Advanced Leadership Academy is a 15-month leadership development series featuring 16 in-person and 7 online learning experiences, designed to support superintendents and district leaders as they collaborate with peers, engage with thought leaders within and beyond education, and develop strategies to address both immediate and future challenges in their districts.
Please join us in congratulating the inaugural cohort:
- Val Rae Boe, Superintendent, Northeast Metro Intermediate 916
- Jamie Boelter, Superintendent, New London–Spicer
- Dan Deitte, Superintendent, Hutchinson Public Schools
- Barbara Duffrin, Superintendent, Mahtomedi Public Schools
- Kevin Enerson, Superintendent, ROCORI Public Schools
- Matt Hillmann, Superintendent, Northfield Public Schools
- Brenda Lewis, Superintendent, Fridley Public Schools
- Heather Lyke, Executive Director, Northwest Suburban Integration SD
- Michael Meihak, Superintendent, NRHEG Public Schools
- Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools
- David Pace, Superintendent, Greenway Schools
- Melissa Radeke, Superintendent, Lester Prairie School District
- Rick Sansted, Superintendent, Alexandria Public Schools
- Paul Scanlon, COO, STEP Academy
- Jeremy Schmidt, Superintendent, Becker Public School District
- Kristie Sullivan, Superintendent, Breckenridge Public School
- Nate Walbruch, Superintendent, Byron Public Schools
- Holly Ward, Superintendent, Dawson-Boyd Public Schools
We also want to extend a special thank-you to our Academy Facilitator, Steve Murley, and our outstanding coaches: Paul Neubauer, Denise Pontrelli, Julie Critz, Stephanie Burrage, and Bob McDowell, whose expertise and guidance were instrumental to the success of this cohort.
Finally, we are grateful to ISG, the academy’s sponsor, for their generous support of this important leadership development experience.
Interested in joining a future cohort? Our next Advanced Leadership Academy will kick off this fall—more details coming soon!
Congratulations to our first Advanced Leadership Academy cohort—we’re excited to see how your leadership continues to shape schools and communities across Minnesota.
The Academy was worth every minute of time, every mile driven to and from, and every penny invested. I could go on and on about the value it brought, but the simplest way to say it is this: it mattered. The learning was meaningful, the conversations were honest, and the professional growth was real. I truly hope others consider joining in the future and have the chance to experience what we did during this inaugural year. Hats off to Deb, Lori, and Steve for pulling this together and making it something special.