2022 Superintendent Search
On November 15, 2021, Superintendent Dr. Dennis Peterson announced he will retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Following his announcement, the School Board began the process for a nationwide search for a new superintendent to begin serving on July 1, 2022. It is the Board's goal to keep the Minnetonka Public Schools community informed about and involved with the search process each step of the way.
On April 21, 2022, the School Board named Mr. David Law, current superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin school district, as the next superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools. Mr. Law accepted the role. Pending successful contract negotiations, Mr. Law will begin his new role on July 1.
See timeline below for more details.
About the Search Process
Search Timeline
Date | Details |
April 21, 2022 |
The School Board named Mr. David Law, current superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin school district, as the next superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools. Mr. Law accepted the role. Pending successful contract negotiations, Mr. Law will begin his new role on July 1. |
April 20, 2022 |
The School Board will have a Special Meeting on April 20, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. to receive an additional proposed superintendent candidate from BWP & Associates. This will be “Candidate I”. The Board approved the conditional interview for Candidate I at the 6:30 p.m. Special Meeting. The candidate’s 7:00 p.m. interview was live streamed, but not recorded. |
April 11, 2022 |
BWP & Associates and the School Board Superintendent Search subcommittee continue to network and search for additional superintendent candidates that are an excellent fit for the Minnetonka Leadership Profile. The Board subcommittee is also sourcing candidates for an interim superintendent, in the event that one is needed. |
March 24, 2022 |
The Board provided an update on the Superintendent search at a special meeting of the Board. |
March 23, 2022 | Minnetonka Schools was informed by Dr. Paul Imhoff that he has elected to withdraw from the superintendent search. He shared with the Superintendent Search Sub-committee that he and his wife made the very difficult decision that they cannot leave Ohio at this time. The Board will move forward with the search and will provide an update on the process for the continued search for our next superintendent or possibly for an interim superintendent for the upcoming school year—at the March 24, 2022 Special Meeting of the Board. |
March 22, 2022 |
Site visit and meeting with cabinet and head principals for Dr. Paul Imhoff. 6:30 p.m. Final Interview for Dr. Paul Imhoff at District Service Center in Community Room. After interview, School Board deliberated for superintendent selection. 8 p.m. Special Session The School Board voted 7-to-0 for Dr. Paul Imhoff to be the next superintendent. The Board's next step will be to contact the two finalists with this result. |
March 21, 2022 |
Site visit and meeting with cabinet and head principals for Ben Barton. 6:30 p.m. Final Interview for Ben Barton at District Service Center in Community Room. |
March 17, 2022 |
School Board interviewed two additional superintendent candidates. School Board deliberated and elected to bring two candidates forward for finalists. They are Dr. Paul Imhoff and Ben Barton. |
March 14, 2022 |
Special Meeting to approve two additional superintendent candidates. |
March 1 – March 7, 2022 |
School Board interviews first round candidates. |
February 22 -25, 2022 |
BWP & Associates to present the candidate slate for consideration for School Board interviews and conducts in-person School Board workshop to prepare for interviews. |
February 4 - 18, 2022 |
BWP & Associates to review candidate applications and screens candidates to identify 4-7 for consideration for School Board interviews. |
February 3, 2022 | School Board Meeting
BWP & Associates presented a leadership profile virtually at Board meeting for affirmation. |
January 14 – 27, 2022 |
Community Input |
January 8, 2022 |
School Board member training regarding the Open Meetings Act and the Minnesota Data Practices Act (Minn. Stat. Ch. 13.43, subdivision 3). |
December 16, 2021 |
Special Meeting and Study Session |
December 13, 2021 |
School Board Special Meeting The School Board selected B.W.P. & Associates to lead the search. |
December 9, 2021 |
School Board Study Session |
November 17-December 1, 2021 |
The School Board accepted search firm proposals. |
November 17, 2021 |
The School Board created a special subcommittee to gather information on search firms. The subcommittee includes School Board members Lisa Wagner (Treasurer), Katie Becker (Director) and Dr. John Odom (Director). |
November 15, 2021 |
Superintendent Dr. Dennis Peterson announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year. |
About the Search Firm: BWP & Associates
Community Outreach
Superintendent Survey
BWP & Associates was directed by the School Board to obtain community input for the characteristics and qualities desired in our new superintendent. As a part of this, BWP developed a district-wide online survey which was made available to the community in multiple languages.
Input Groups
BWP also be conducted input group sessions to assist in the development of the leadership profile. Approximately 40 sessions were conducted with various constituencies including:
- District Staff at all levels E-12 and SAIL (teachers, support staff, food service, custodial, counselors, social workers, principals, administrators)
- District students at the MS and HS Levels
- District Parents at all levels E-12
- Area mayors and police and fire chiefs
- Area legislators
- Advisory Councils' and Booster Clubs' members
- Members of District Partner Groups such as Minnetonka Family Collaborative, Relate Counseling, Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation, etc.
- Community Group Leaders from groups such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, ICA Food Shelf, etc.
- School Board members
Superintendent Leadership Profile
BWP & Associates used the survey results and input group feedback to develop the superintendent leadership profile for approval by the School Board. The superintendent leadership profile was approved by the School Board at its February 3, 2022 meeting.
FAQ
1. Why is Minnetonka Public Schools searching for a new superintendent?
Dr. Dennis Peterson is retiring on June 30, 2022, after serving 21 years as our superintendent.
2. Who will hire the next superintendent?
The Minnetonka School Board (Board of Education), as the elected representatives of the school district, is charged by Minnesota law with employing a superintendent. The Board will interview candidates, make a selection, and approve the contract for the next superintendent.
3. How will the Board include the voices of our community in the hiring of the next superintendent?
Community stakeholders have been invited to complete a brief survey online about the personal qualities, experiences, and skills the next superintendent needs to have to lead our school district. In addition, consultants from BWP & Associates have been conducting focus groups and public forums with diverse groups of staff, community members and leaders, and students to gather additional data. Three open community forums also have been advertised so members of the school community could share their views as well.
4. Why did the Board of Education hire BWP & Associates to assist with the superintendent search?
BWP is a national firm that works with Boards of Education in hiring school leaders. BWP has a proven process for recruiting, evaluating, and vetting candidates for superintendent positions. They provide the support and expertise the Board needs to conduct a search that meets the meets the high standards of the Minnetonka school community.
5. How will the Board of Education determine who is the right person to lead our schools?
BWP creates a Leadership Profile based upon the data collected from the community survey, focus groups and public forums, and Board member interviews that describes the personal qualities, experiences, and skills of the ideal candidate for the Minnetonka Public Schools. The Leadership Profile becomes the rubric by which applicants and candidates are evaluated. BWP will screen candidates to identify four to seven for consideration for Board interviews. The Board will interview the candidates to determine who best meets the Leadership Profile. After the final interviews, the Board will build a consensus around the finalist.
6. How can I stay informed about the progress of the superintendent search?
The Board provides regular updates about the search on the school district's website. In addition, the Board will provide updates on the search as part of its regular Board meeting agendas. You may wish to attend the February 3 meeting of the Board when the BWP consultants will present the findings from the community survey, focus groups and public forums and a draft of the Leadership Profile.
7. How will BWP recruit candidates for the Board?
BWP maintains an extensive professional network with educators throughout the nation. Many of the applicants for the position in Minnetonka will be personally recruited by the consultants and their colleagues at BWP. In addition, the Board is advertising widely within the educational leadership space, including the following organizations and publications: - American Association of School Administrators: the largest national organization of public school superintendents in the country - Education Week: a national publication that is devoted to news impacting public education - National Alliance of Black School Educators: the national organization for Black school leaders - Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents: the national organization for Latinx leaders - Minnesota Association of School Administrators: the state chapter of the American Association of School Administrators In addition, BWP's own website is visited regularly by school leaders across the country to keep abreast of job opportunities. There is a link to the BWP website on the district’s website.
8. When will the Minnetonka School Board announce the school district's new superintendent?
The Board and BWP & Associates are currently networking to identify additional superintendent candidates. The Search timeline will continue to be updated as activity occurs.
9. When will the new superintendent start?
If a new superintendent is identified, they will officially begin on July 1, 2022. Otherwise, an interim superintendent will be selected by the Board and will start on that date.
10. How will the community be able to meet the new superintendent?
The district will publicize opportunities for the Minnetonka community to meet the new superintendent.