New Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Senior Academic Officer Melissa Sonnek Represents Another Academic Lightweight in Key MPS Key Role

Tia Clasen, herself an academically insubstantial leader of the Academic Division, Is out as Senior Academic Officer at the Minneapolis Public Schools. 

Typically, Clasen has been replaced by another academic lightweight, Melissa Sonnek, most recently an associate superintendent at the Roseville, Minnesota, school district.

 

Note that Sonnek has no degree in a key academic area (e.g., mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, government, economics, geography, English/world literature)  >>>>>

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Melissa Sonnek (Senior Academic Officer)

 

Academic Credentials

 

M.S., Education

(Winona State University)

 

Superintendent Licensure

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities)

 

B.A., Early Childhood Education

 

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The following is the statement issued by the Minneapolis Public Schools announcing Melissa Sonnek as the new Senior Academic Officer >>>>>

June 10 2025

“Superintendent Dr. Lisa Sayles-Adams has announced Melissa Sonnek will join MPS as Senior Academic Officer.

As senior academic officer, Sonnek will lead the district's vision and work on curriculum, instruction, and academic programming and will supervise the following departments: Academic Programs, Career and Technical Education; Community Education; Core Academics; Indian Education; the Office of Black Student Achievement; the Office of Latine Achievement; and Multilingual and Magnets. Of her new role, Sonnek shared “I could not be more thrilled and honored to step into the role of senior academic officer in Minneapolis Public Schools. I believe ‘Nothing about us, without us, is for us.’ I look forward to living into that value by doing a lot of listening and learning with MPS students, families, community, and staff.”

Sonnek currently serves as an associate superintendent for Roseville Area Schools, a role she has held since 2021, and in which she provides leadership to a wide range of district functions including academics and principal supervision. Prior to her current position, she served Roseville Area Schools in a leadership capacity in the Teaching and Learning Department and as an elementary principal from 2013-2019. Sonnek began her educational career as an early elementary classroom and reading recovery teacher, and then deepened her focus on literacy and instructional leadership as a school literacy specialist, building instructional coach, and lead district instructional coach in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District.

Sonnek holds a Masters of Science in Education degree from Winona State University. She completed her K-12 Principal Licensure program at St. Mary’s University and her Superintendent License program at the University of Minnesota. She currently holds licensure as an elementary teacher, K-12 principal, and district superintendent.”