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.

• View the survey results (PDF)

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. 

• View the superintendent leadership profile (PDF)

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.