Finalists named for interim superintendent position

Shakopee Valley News

And then there were two. 

Two finalists have accepted the offer to move forward in Shakopee's interim superintendent hiring process: Gary Anger and Mike Redmond. Anger is superintendent for Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools in Mazeppa; Redmond is the superintendent for Goodhue Public Schools.

Though the personnel committee identified three finalists during its July 13 meeting, one candidate decided not to move forward.

The two finalists will answer questions during a public interview on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. The public will be able to attend, however, the Shakopee School Board will ask the questions.

Anger helped implement Weather Impacted Learnings Days, which have replaced snow days in his district, which has over 1,100 students. From 2003 to 2015, Anger was the principal of Red Pine Elementary in Eagan and principal of Grey Cloud Elementary in Cottage Grove from 1999 to 2003.

"He is a very calming, very relationship-oriented individual who impressed me with virtually every sentence he said," Personnel Committee Chair Shawn Hallett said on July 13.

Redmond has worked at Goodhue for the past four years. He was executive director of secondary education for Stillwater Area Public Schools from 2012 to 2013. From 2009 to 2012, he was principal of John Glenn Middle School in Maplewood. He also served as an assistant principal from 2007 to 2009 and a social studies teacher from 1993 to 2007.

Redmond has held committee positions with the Minnesota Association of School Administrators and ran for Minnesota House of Representatives in 2000 and 2002. 

"He's the most familiar with what we're trying to do at this district," Hallett said during the personnel meeting. 

Hallett also said Redmond increased the district's fund balance and was a relationship builder.