Superintendent Search

The school board has chosen Dr. Kim Hiel to lead Osseo Area Schools. Prior to being selected for the role, Hiel participated in an hour-long interview on Feb. 27 and then a day-long interview on March 1, which included conversations with staff, scholars, parents/caregivers and community members.

“Dr. Hiel is passionate about her work and centers scholars in all she does,” said Board Chair Jackie Mosqueda-Jones. “Her exemplary experience with teaching and learning and strategic planning makes her well positioned to lead our district and bring our bold future to life. It’s also an honor to have Osseo Area Schools first Black superintendent.” 

Hiel has over 20 years of educational experience. She is currently the superintendent of Fridley Public Schools. Prior to her time there, she was an assistant superintendent at Osseo Area Schools and before that a principal at Zanewood Community: A STEAM School, within the district. Additionally, she has been a principal at Robbinsdale Area Schools. The Minnesota School Board Directors of Color and Indigenous Fellowship and Minnesota Association of School Administrators have both recently awarded Hiel for her distinguished leadership. 

“I’m honored to be joining such a strong community,” said Hiel. “I’m looking forward to partnering in bringing our schools to even greater heights.”  

The district is now entering into contract negotiations with Hiel. Her service is expected to begin on July 1. 

“I want to thank all five candidates for sharing their time and expertise,” said Mosqueda-Jones. “Each and every one of them was highly qualified.”

The search process was coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a national search firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring leadership positions. Details on each step of the search process is available at district279.org/SuptSearch.

In its search for the next Osseo Area Schools superintendent, the school board approved two candidates to move forward in the process:   

• Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, current superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools in Chaska, Minn. Interview scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28.
• Dr. Kim Hiel, current superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in Fridley, Minn. Interview scheduled for Wednesday, March 1. 

These next interviews will be day-long and follow a similar schedule. The days will start with staff and scholar conversations. Later in the evening, staff, scholars, parents/caregivers and community members are all welcome to attend community question and answer sessions from 6:15-7:15 p.m. If you’d like a question asked, please submit it ahead of time via this Google Form. All are also welcome to attend the final school board interviews from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The board will have an opportunity for those in attendance to provide feedback at the conclusion of the interviews. Both of these portions – the question and answer sessions and the interviews – will be held at the Educational Service Center, 11200 93rd Ave. N, Maple Grove each night.

The decision on a preferred candidate is expected shortly after the last interview on March 1. The new superintendent is expected to begin service on July 1. 

This search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a national search firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring leadership positions. Please feel free to contact the School Exec Connect team if you have any questions regarding the superintendent search: Ken Dragseth (952-210-2790), Toni Johns (612-309-1511) and/or Dave Clough (847-644-5556).

Continue to stay tuned to district279.org/SuptSearch for latest details.

More about the candidates:

Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams is the superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools. Prior to her current role she was an assistant superintendent at North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale School District and Saint Paul Public Schools. Additionally, she has been a principal at school districts in Minnesota and Georgia. 

Dr. Kim Hiel is the superintendent of Fridley Public Schools. Prior to her current role she was an assistant superintendent at Osseo Area Schools and before that a principal in the district (at Zanewood Community: A STEAM School). Additionally, she has been a principal at Robbinsdale Area Schools.

In its search for the next highly qualified Osseo Area Schools superintendent, the school board approved five candidates to move forward in the interview process at a special meeting on Feb. 24.  

• Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, current superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools in Chaska, Minn. Interview scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
• Dr. Amy Starzecki, current superintendent of the Superior School District in Superior, Wis. Interview scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 2:45 p.m.
• Dr. Brenda Cassellius, current CEO of LeaderProof LLC and former superintendent of Boston Public Schools in Boston, Mass. Interview scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
• Dr. Kim Hiel, current superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in Fridley, Minn. Interview scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 5:45 p.m.
• Dr. Teri Staloch, current senior educational consultant of Sitelog IQ and School IQ and former superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools in Prior Lake, Minn. Interview scheduled for Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

The interviews will be held at the district’s Educational Service Center, 11200 93rd Ave. N, Maple Grove. Staff, scholars, parents/caregivers and community members are welcome to attend. Feedback forms will be available for those in attendance to share their thoughts on each candidate.  

The school board is expected to name two to three finalists following the first interviews. Finalists will be invited to day-long interviews on either Tuesday, Feb. 28, Wednesday, March 1  or Thursday, March 2. The decision on a preferred candidate is expected shortly after the last interview. 

This search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a national search firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring leadership positions. Please feel free to contact the School Exec Connect team if you have any questions regarding the superintendent search: Ken Dragseth (952-210-2790), Toni Johns (612-309-1511) and/or Dave Clough (847-644-5556).

Continue to stay tuned to district279.org/SuptSearch for latest details.

The schedule has been adjusted due to the heavy snowfall expected. 

• Five to six candidates will be approved to move forward at a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. 
• Five to six candidates will interview on Monday, Feb. 27 starting at 1:30 p.m. Finalists will be chosen to move forward at the end of the day. 
• Two to three finalists will participate in day-long interviews on Tuesday, Feb. 28, Wednesday, March 1 and Thursday, March 2. 

The school board continues to work diligently to hire the next highly qualified Osseo Area Schools superintendent who will keep the district's new strategic plan moving forward. Initial candidates are expected to be approved by the board at a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21*. Candidate names will remain unknown to the board, staff and community until they're shared and approved at the meeting.  

Five to six initial candidates will interview between 4-8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22* and 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23* at the Educational Service Center, 11200 93rd Ave. N, Maple Grove. Staff, scholars, parents/caregivers and community members are all welcome to attend. At the conclusion of these interviews, the school board will determine finalists to move forward. 

Two to three finalists will be invited for second interviews on Feb. 27*, 28* and March 1*. These day-long interviews will include a number of conversations with staff and scholars throughout the district. Staff, scholars, parents/caregivers and community members are all welcome to attend the community question and answer sessions from 6:15-7:15 p.m. each night. If you’d like a question asked, please submit it ahead of time via this Google Form. All are also welcome to attend the final school board interviews from 7:30-8:30 p.m. each night. The board will have an opportunity for those in attendance to provide feedback at the conclusion of the interviews. Both of these portions – the question and answer session and the interviews – will be held at the Educational Service Center. 

Late December, more than 1,000 staff, families and community members shared what they believe our district should be looking for and/or considering in relation to our next superintendent – preferred skills, qualities and traits. This is considered to be an extremely healthy engagement level comparatively. A leadership profile was created as a result of this feedback to aide in each step of the search process.

This search process is coordinated cooperatively with School Exec Connect, a national search firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring leadership positions. Please feel free to contact the School Exec Connect team if you have any questions regarding the superintendent search: Ken Dragseth (952-210-2790), Toni Johns (612-309-1511) and/or Dave Clough (847-644-5556).

Continue to stay tuned to district279.org/SuptSearch for latest details.

Late this month, many staff, families and community members participated in a ThoughtExchange to share what they believe our district should be looking for and/or considering in relation to our next superintendent – preferred skills, qualities and traits. A leadership profile was created and finalized as a result of the feedback. It's now being shared with potential candidates and will aide in each step of the search process. 

Members of the school board are working diligently to hire the next highly qualified Osseo Area Schools superintendent. At its Dec. 19 special meeting, the board contracted with School Exec Connect, a national search firm that specializes in supporting school boards in hiring leadership positions. Now, the position will be advertised and recruited for through the end of the month and into mid-February. 

Our board is committed to having staff, families and community members involved in this search process. Please take the opportunity to share what you believe our district should be looking for and/or considering in relation to our next superintendent – preferred skills, qualities and traits. Also, stay tuned to district279.org/SuptSearch for details on late February/early March interviews that you can take part in.  

Please feel free to contact the School Exec Connect team if you have any questions regarding the superintendent search: Ken Dragseth (952-210-2790), Toni Johns (612-309-1511) and/or Dave Clough (847-644-5556). 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in this search process. Working together will help in making the best possible choice for our next superintendent.

Osseo Area Schools staff, families and community, 

As you may have heard, Superintendent Cory McIntyre has been chosen to lead Anoka-Hennepin Schools as Superintendent. His new role is set to begin July 1, 2023.

Members of the school board intend to work diligently to hire the next highly qualified Osseo Area Schools superintendent who will continue to move the district's vision, mission and strategic directions forward. To assist in this process, the board will be holding a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 19 to act on the appointment of a search firm. The goal is to hire the district’s next superintendent in the spring to allow for a smooth transition in leadership.

Osseo Area Schools has such a strong, bright future. Over the last couple of  years, staff, families and community members have shared what will bring the district to the next level of excellence. The strategic plan is in place to deliver on those needs and desires. Please take a few minutes to share anything additionally that you believe our district should be looking for and/or considering in relation to our next superintendent – preferred skills, qualities and traits. Your thoughts are needed by Wednesday, Dec. 21. Know that your feedback is anonymous and will only be used for creating a leadership profile to help with the steps of the search process. 

The superintendent position is expected to be advertised and recruited for later this month. Interviews will likely be held late February into March. Stay tuned to district279.org/SuptSearch for latest details. 

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts. Working together will help make the best possible choice for our next superintendent. 

Sincerely,
Board of Education, Osseo Area Schools