The Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Superintendent Search Task Force announced at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 21 November 2023, two finalists for MPS superintendent.
Information issued by candidate Sonia Stewart herself, listed on the School Board portal of the MPS website is reproduced as follows >>>>>
2023 Minneapolis Schools Superintendent Search Finalist
Sonia Stewart
Dr. Sonia Stewart currently serves
as the Deputy Superintendent for the Hamilton County Public Schools in
Chattanooga, TN (44,000 students). In this role she supervises the School
Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Opportunity and Access, and Social Emotional
and Academic Development departments. She came to Hamilton County three and a
half years ago as the Community Superintendent for the MidTown Learning
Community.
Dr. Stewart’s career pathway
includes 13 years of experience in the Nashville, TN public schools, working
as:
- Executive
Officer of Organizational Development
- Executive
Principal at Pearl-Cohn High School
- Freshman
Academy Administrator, Glencliff High School
- Math
Teacher and Head Girls Basketball Coach
In addition, Dr. Stewart taught
math in Los Angeles, California and was the Founder and Executive Director of
The Oaks Community Development Corporation in Chicago where she built a broad
network of parents, community leaders, and partner organizations in order to
drive change for students and families in a targeted neighborhood focused on
education and educational reform.
Dr. Stewart earned her Doctorate
of Education in Education, Leadership, and Policy from Vanderbilt University.
There, she earned the Dean’s Merit Scholarship Award and Wheeler prize. She
also has a Masters of Education from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville,
TN and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Biola University in La Mirada,
CA.
In her application letter, Dr.
Stewart highlights her career accomplishments, as well as her personal
investment and commitment to improving long-term learning outcomes for
marginalized youth from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
As Minneapolis superintendent, she would boldly pursue a strategic vision that
fosters the growth and success of all children regardless of their background,
zip code, and personal needs. In her roles with the Hamilton County
Public Schools, Dr. Stewart led and contributed to efforts that resulted in a
district composite level five growth score and increases in student achievement
and exceeding state proficiency rates in all core content areas—literacy, math,
science, and social studies.
Dr. Stewart believes that the MPS
is uniquely positioned to build on its mission, vision, and commitment to
provide high quality, culturally responsive education for its students. This
work, however, cannot be done alone. Dr. Stewart believes that strong community
partnerships are essential to student success. In Hamilton County, she points
with pride to her efforts to ensure that 34,000 students received wrap-around
services articulated in individualized student success plans.
Dr. Stewart has earned significant
respect for her work. In his reference letter, her boss, Superintendent Dr.
Justin Robertson wrote, “Dr. Stewart’s leadership qualities are unparalleled,
making her the most exceptional educational leader I have encountered
throughout my career.” The Hamilton County School Board Chair wrote in her
reference letter that Dr. Stewart, “is truly a leader that has the ability to
hear, see, learn and bring together multiple perspectives and educational needs
for a community in a way that benefits all those around her.” Additionally,
former HCS interim superintendent, Dr. Nakia Towns remarks, “Dr. Stewart is a
leader among leaders and has become an ‘irreplaceable’ in HCS,
institutionalizing legacy-building initiatives that will endure to serve
students for decades to come.”
On a personal note, Dr. Stewart has been married to her husband Rayna for 28 years, and together they have four adult children. She enjoys reading, hiking, sports and traveling.
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