February 17, 2023

(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, Superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools, recipient of the 2023 Kay E. Jacobs Memorial Award. The award recognizes excellent leadership and involvement in MASA and other educational organizations by an administrator who is a woman. Dr. Sayles-Adams will be honored for her leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference held March 9-10, 2023.

“Lisa exemplifies a servant leader. She holds the highest ideals and standards for educational leaders, promotes academic excellence, cooperation, cultural awareness, and respect for diversity,” said Dr. Theresa Battle, Superintendent of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. “Lisa wants students to thrive socially, emotionally and educationally and not only do well in school, but in life. She works compassionately and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders on critical issues and creates transparency and engagement to find solutions and resolve issues.”

Dr. Sayles-Adams began her role as Superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools on July 1, 2020. Prior to the superintendency, she served as Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools and Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning for North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District, and as a Principal and then Assistant Superintendent for Saint Paul Public Schools. She began her career in education as a Middle School Teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools.

During her time at Eastern Carver County Schools, Dr. Sayles-Adams has successfully led the district through a global pandemic, a successful operating referendum campaign with the highest passage rate in the state (69%), and launched a comprehensive strategic plan. These accomplishments occurred through thoughtful stakeholder engagement, listening and building trust, and always keeping the district’s work focused on its central mission: providing a well-rounded and excellent education for every student.

Amid racial controversy and community divide, Dr. Sayles-Adams made efforts to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment within the district. She led her team through the creation of a comprehensive racial harm protocol to interrupt and eliminate disparaging comments and inappropriate behavior related to race-based language and actions. The racial harm protocol includes job-embedded staff development, revised district policies and procedures, restorative practices, student support, and transparent communication. Student voice and stakeholder feedback have been integral to revising effective systems, processes, and the way adults respond to student needs within Eastern Carver County Schools.

Dr. Sayles-Adams is an active member in MASA. She has been a member of the MASA BIPOC Affinity Group and the MASA Nominating Committee. She is a graduate of the Minnesota Aspiring Superintendent’s Academy.

Dr. Sayles-Adams’ other professional involvement includes the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit (Metro ESCU) Board Member, and Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce Board Member.

Dr. Sayles-Adams earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She received a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

February 17, 2023

(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Jamie Nord, Executive Director of the St. Croix River Education District (SCRED), the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award. She received this award for exhibiting a willingness to take risks, possessing strong communications skills, being a progressive change agent, and having high expectations for herself and others. Nord will be honored for her leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference held March 9-10, 2023.
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“Jamie is a fierce advocate for the member districts, staff, and students of SCRED. She’s consistently engaged in influencing positive change which enables the member districts of SCRED to receive the excellent services and support they need to achieve their goals,” wrote Melissa Hanson, Executive Director of the Meeker and Wright Special Education Cooperative in her nomination letter. “Jamie is a visionary leader who sets the vision and mission for the organization, shares it with stakeholders consistently, and then clearly and carefully facilitates processes to ensure that the vision and mission are achieved.”

Nord has served for 16 years at SCRED. Previous roles within the organization have included Director of Special Education, Unique Learners’ Manager, and School Psychologist. In all of her roles at SCRED, Jamie has been involved in the creation and implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) to improve outcomes for all learners. Her purpose lies in seeing the unseen potential in people and systems. She strives to nurture others in realizing that potential and strategically improving the health of systems for the benefit of all.

“Since taking on the role of Executive Director in 2015, Jamie has provided steadfast leadership, vision, and support to SCRED, being a key asset in enhancing a positive and collaborative culture within our member districts, enabling innovative practices in the area of MTSS, and establishing a mindset and commitment for continuous improvement at every level,” wrote Nicole Woodward, Director for Special Education at SCRED, in her letter of support. “Jamie established SCRED as its own fiscal entity, allocated resources for the implementation of a comprehensive data warehouse and data-based decision-making system, developed unique student programs, and oversaw a multi-year building project that required her to secure buy-in from three separate school boards.”

Nord is an active member of MASA and has served on both the Federal Advocacy and Legislative committees. She is an active collaborator in MASA’s Region 6 and serves as a mentor in the MASA Mentoring Program to new Executive Directors. In 2020, Nord was the recipient of the Region 6 Administrator of Excellence Award.

Nord is the current President of the Minnesota Administrators for Special Education (MASE). Her involvement in MASE has included the Legislative Committee’s co-chair and Area D Representative to the MASE Board of Directors. As MASE President-Elect and President, Nord has embraced national opportunities to learn from other states, advocate at the federal level, and support new leaders in the field. She has attended the Council of Administrator of Special Education (CASE) conferences, and participated in the Special Education Legislative Summit in Washington D.C.

“Jamie is a fierce supporter of students and educators. She not only advocates at a local level but also brings her articulate message of the needs in the realm of special education, to the state and federal arenas,” said Stefanie Youngberg, Superintendent of East Central Public Schools in her letter of support. “She advocates, always putting the best interest of all learners, in the forefront.”

Nord earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, her Master of Education and Education Specialist degrees in School Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout (while simultaneously completing the coursework for School Counseling), and her Sixth Year Certificate for Director of Special Education, K-12 Principal, and Superintendent licensure from St. Cloud State University.

February 17, 2023

(St. Paul, MN) – The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Anthony Padrnos, Executive Director of Technology for Osseo Area Schools, the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award. He received this award for exhibiting a willingness to take risks, possessing strong communications skills, being a progressive change agent, and having high expectations for himself and others. Padrnos will be honored for his leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference held March 9-10, 2023.

Padrnos has served for five years as the Executive Director of Technology for Osseo Area School. Before Osseo, he was the Director of Technology for Richfield Public Schools. Padrnos began his career at Hopkins Public Schools as a Mathematics Instructor and Digital Content and Integration Specialist. He also served as a Member Rights Specialist with the Hopkins Education Association.

During his tenure with Osseo Area Schools, Padrnos collaboratively led and facilitated instrumental organizational initiatives starting with a complete review and redevelopment of the district’s digital learning plan. This redevelopment included a partnership with the Teaching and Learning Department to revamp professional development, replace personal learning technologies for students, expand the 1:1 personal learning devices access for 21,000 K-12 students, and implement a mobile internet hotspot program to ensure equitable internet access at home. In addition, during the pandemic, Padrnos provided district oversight and leadership to develop the district’s full-time centralized distance learning option for more than 5,000 students. He then led the development of 279Online, Osseo’s full-time certified online school for students K-12, which served 1,000 students in its first year.

Padrnos is an active member of MASA and was one of the original members of the MASA Technology Component Group. He served on the Federal Advocacy and Legislative Committees and is the chair-elect for the Legislative Policy Subcommittee. Padrnos has presented frequently at the MASA fall and spring conferences on a variety of topics, including leading in the digital age, cyber security for non-technical leaders, and technology legal issues.

Beyond MASA, Padrnos collaborated with technology leaders across the state after the TIES organization dissolved to form the Minnesota K-12 Technology Leaders Group. This group serves as a user group for all K-12 technology leaders across Minnesota to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas to advance education through the use of technology. Padrnos co-chaired the group from 2018-2021 and organized monthly state meetings and technology leadership conferences during that time for the development of K-12 technology leaders.
Padrnos earned an Education Specialist in Educational Administration and a master’s degree in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He received a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.