MPS names new superintendent

Minneapolis will be welcoming a new superintendent on Feb. 5, 2024.

On Dec. 1, 2023, with opposition from two southwest board members, the Minneapolis Public School (MPS) Board of Education approved the selection of Lisa Sayles-Adams. 

“This is a full-circle moment for me,” said Sayles-Adams. “I began my career in education working as a teacher in North Minneapolis, and that’s where I learned that strong schools make a strong community. I am honored and thank the school board for their vote of confidence in my commitment to serve as the next superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools. I look forward to partnering with teachers, students, staff and the community to make sure every student gets the high-quality education they deserve.”

The school board was expected to vote on her start date and contract at the Dec. 12 board meeting (after the Connector went to press). Rochelle Cox has been serving as the interim superintendent following the resignation of Ed Graff on June 30, 2022. 

“We are thrilled Dr. Sayles-Adams will lead Minneapolis Public Schools into the future and are excited about her deep educational experience, passion for lifting students up and proven track record of improving student performance at public schools,” said Board Chair Sharon El-Amin. “She will provide both a vision and a strategy for continued growth for every student at MPS regardless of their background or zip code.”

The selection of Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams, who is currently the superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools in Minnesota, followed a formal search process that started this fall. It culminated in the two finalists, Dr. Sonia Stewart and Sayles-Adams, getting a “Day in the District” that included community meet and greet events and school board interviews on Nov. 27 and 29.  

 

During the special school board meeting on Dec. 1, both southwest area MPS Directors, Ira Jourdain from District 6 and Adriana Cerrillo from District 4, spoke and voted in support of Stewart as the new superintendent. They were the only directors of the nine who did not support Sayles-Adams.

“It’s time to take a leap of faith and have an outsider, versus having an insider,” said Cerrillo, whose district includes Bryn-Mawr, Lowry Hill, Loring Park, Kenwood, East Isles and Cedar-Isle Dean. She said, “In my mind and in my heart, I have no doubt that Dr. Sewart is the individual that will be serving. And when we talk about having a superintendent who serves as a healing presence, we better have no strings attached. We better have an individual that is not going to be coming to MPS to benefit their career or their political future.” 

Stewart has not lived or worked in Minnesota. She is currently Deputy Superintendent for the Hamilton County Public Schools in Chattanooga Tenn., and has also worked in Los Angeles and Chicago. 

Sayles-Adams grew up in the area, graduated from St. Paul Public Schools, and attended the University of Minnesota. Her aunt, Sharon Sayles-Belton, is well known in the area as a former mayor, city council president and city council member from south Minneapolis. 

After working as a teacher and principal in Minneapolis, Sayles-Adams was a principal for a high school and two elementary schools from 2004 to 2012 in Clayton County Schools in Georgia. Then she returned to work as a assistant superintendent in St. Paul, before moving to Eastern Carver County in 2020. Sayles-Adams has four adult children. 

 

Nearly all the school board directors had praise for both candidates. “We have two great candidates,” said Jourdain. “It is a very hard choice for me,” His district includes West Maka Ska, East Bde Maka Ska, South Uptown, Linden Hills, East Harriet, Kingfield, Fulton, Lynnhurst, Tangletown, Armatage, Kenny and Windom. 

“I just cannot in good conscience hire a director who has seen a decline in test scores among our students with the most needs, our African American students, our Latino black and brown students, our Native American students,” Jourdain said. He pointed to Eastern Carver County school data showing that, while graduation rates have increased in recent years for students of color, standardized test scores have not. 

Most school board directors spoke in favor of Sayles-Adams. Southside’s District 5 Director, Lori Norvell, cited Sayles-Adams’ experience working with union leaders, improved graduation rates and her history working in Minnesota as reasons for hiring her. “She is knowledgeable about Minnesota state budgets,” Norvell said. “She is ready to hit the ground running.” 

At-large director, Joyner Emerick. cited her work in St. Paul. She said, “There is tremendous value to knowing some of the history in Minnesota and in the metropolitan area pertaining to this long-term work pertaining to the intersection of race and disability for our students.”

“I believe that she already knows the city,” said at-large director Collin Beachy.  “We have someone who already does love Minneapolis, and already knows Minneapolis and believes in Minneapolis.”

Her history with the city and metropolitan area has been noted by non-board members, as well. 

“I’m a Sayles-Adams team all the way,” said former school board member David Tilson. “I thought her interview was, well, actually kind of inspiring. I also like that she’s local and committed to staying for more than a few years. This revolving door of superintendents has not been a good thing.”

Lynnell Mickelsen is a southwest resident and follower of the public schools with three sons who attended and graduated from the city’s public schools.

“In the case of the two finalists, I don’t think it matters,” said Mickelson. “I understand that Ira Jourdain wanted an outsider superintendent with ‘fresh eyes’; the others thought Lisa Sayles-Adams’ previous experience in the district would be helpful.  Both are valid viewpoints.”

Contract negotiations are expected to be concluded by the end of the month, and plans for the leadership transition are already underway.   

“I am encouraged by Dr. Sayles-Adam’s hiring and wish her the best,” said Linden Hills resident, Sara Spafford-Freeman, whose three children attend Minneapolis public schools. “She will assume leadership for MPS at a particularly challenging time. The district has warned of a financial crisis and begun the process of discussing school transformations that several board members have said will require school closures. It’s not an ideal environment in which to become superintendent, but she seems to have eyes wide open regarding the challenges and opportunities.” 

 

“Transition of leadership is one of the most crucial periods for any school district,” Sayles-Adams said in her interview. She added that, if selected, she would consider it “crucial to establish a formal entry plan to create a culture of trust, transparency and collaboration that reflects the mission, vision and values of Minneapolis public schools.”

Sayles-Adams has shared plans to use a process of listening, learning, evaluating and leading. She identified the goal areas of “teaching and learning; culture and climate; collaborative governance; and, community connections and public relations” to be addressed during a 100-day entry plan.  

 

Mickelsen believes that the district’s problems are “deeply structural and cultural.” “It’s very similar to the Minneapolis police,” she said. “Neither the MPS superintendent nor the MPS police chief truly has the power to change the institution and the culture. That power lies with the unions and the public.”

“The healing needs to start now, and I believe Dr. Sayles-Adams is going to be the person that can do that,” said Beachy.

“The board needs to have discussions and set clear expectations for the new administration,” said Tilson. “This needs to include, of course, the budget and spending crisis has to be there.” He listed buildings, consolidations, and contract negotiations as critically important things to address, and also worries about top-heavy administrators, class sizes, arts, social workers, nurses, counselors, enrichment, and special ed. 

“I wish Lisa Sayles-Adams all the best,” said Mickelsen. “It’s great to have a Black woman in charge. But it also means this Black woman is going to be blamed and vilified for somehow not being able to ‘fix’ an aging institution that is largely controlled by White middle-class people and voters who want to avoid conflict and hassle. Which is why superintendents (and police chiefs) come and go and the status quo just rolls on.” 

“I fully intend on being here for the long haul,” Sayles-Adams said.