Oct 8, 2025

Article #7 >>>>> Those Most Responsible for Abysmal Student Academic Proficiency Rates at the Minneapolis Public Schools >>>>> Academic Core & Instruction Staff Members

The Minneapolis Public Schools constitute a salient public school district in which incompetence at the lower levels induces a layering of even greater incompetence at putatively higher levels in the district bureaucracy:

 

>>>>>   Teacher training in colleges, schools, and departments of education is abominable, so teachers  at the median are mediocre;  many are incompetent.

 

>>>>>   Principals typically train first as teachers and then receive masters and sometimes doctoral degrees in those same wretched colleges, schools, and departments of education;  they officially have responsibility for teacher and programmatic academic quality at school sites---  but they are at least as inept at delivering quality education as are teachers.

 

>>>>>   Because neither principals or teachers are effective in implementing a high-quality academic program, the position of associate superintendent is created for the mentorship of principals;  but these associate superintendent have the same disastrous training as do principals and teachers, so they, too, are incapable of implementing high-quality curriculum or improving principal and teacher quality.

 

At no level in the educational bureaucracy of the Minneapolis Public Schools is one likely to find anyone who has graduate degrees in an academically relevant discipline:  Overwhelmingly, degrees are received in the same terrible programs of colleges, schools, and departments of education, so that no teacher or administrator has any advanced training in a key subject area (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history, government, or literature).

 

Consider the training of those in the Minneapolis Public Schools Academic Core & Instruction Department, understanding that these officials are among those very most responsible for abysmal student academic proficiency in the Minneapolis Public Schools.  Educational preparation is given below for all but a few of these staff members;  I am still seeking information for a few members, whose educational preparation is not given.


Maria Rollinger (Executive Director)

 

M.Ed., Educational Leadership & Administration

(Hamline University, August 1998-May 2001

 

Brandon Button, Director, Literacy and Humanities

 

M.Ed.

(Harvard University, 2015-2016)

 

M.S., Education

(Winona State University, June 2009-August 2010)

 

B.A., English & Elementary Education

(St. Olaf College, September 2004-June 2008

 

 

Sizi Goya, Director Math and Sciences

 

M. A., Education

(Augsburg University, 2016-2020)

 

B.S., Mathematics

(Texas A&M University, 2001-2005)

 

 

………………………………………………………………………

 

Anna Baumann Smith, Social Studies Content Lead

 

M.Ed.., English/Language Arts Teacher Education

(2013-2015)

 

B.A., Women’s Studies

(Warren Wilson College, 2001-2005)

 

Casey Strecker, College Programs Content Lead

Education Specialist Degree,

(Concordia University/St. Paul, 2014-2020)

 

M.Ed., Educational Leadership & Administration, General

(Concordia University/St. Paul, 2012-2014)

 

B.A., Secondary Education & Teaching

(University of Wisconsin/Madison, 2004-2009)

 

 

Chas Thomsen, Science Content Lead

Jennifer Hanzak, Math K-5 Content LeadK-45

 

Jessica Rose, K-5 Literacy Content Lead

 

M. A., Education Curriculum

(University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign, 1989-1991)

 

B. A., Religious Studies

(St. Olaf College, 1985-1989)

 

Jordan Coliman, 6-12 Literacy Intervention Content Lead

 

Julie Ripplinger, Literacy K-5 Content Lead

 

Reading Specialist Certification

(California State University/East Bay, 2013-2014)

 

B. S., Elementary Education & Teaching

(Minnesota State University/Moorehead, 2013-2014)

 

 

Kelsie Leonard, 6-12 Math Content Lead

Kristin Caquelin, STEM District Program Facilitator

 

Lori Ledoux, Arts Content Lead

 

Education Specialist Degree

(Minnesota State University/Mankato)

 

M.A.

 

B.A., Dance

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities)

 

 

Mandy Bellm, K-12 Library/Media Content Lead

 

Education Specialist Degree, K-12 Principal

(Minnesota State University/Mankato, May 2022-December 2023)

 

Marie Olson, K-5 Literacy Intervention Content Lead

 

M.Ed.

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 1998-2003)

 

B. S., Elementary Education, 5-8 Math

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 2002)

 

Rachel Grayson, 6-12 English/Language Arts Content Lead

 

M.A., Teaching Leadership

(American College of Educatio, July 2020-September 2021)

 

B.A., Secondary Teacher Education

(University of Minnesota/Duluth, 1998))

 

B.S., Communications

(University of Minnesota/Duluth, 1998))

 

Rodert Kohnert, Concurrent Enrollment

 

Ed.D., Educational Leadership & Administration, General

(Minnesota State University/Mankato, July 2020-September 2021)

 

M.A., American History

(Pace University, 2019-2021))

 

M.Ed.., Social Studies Teacher Education

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 2008-2009)

 

B.A., History

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 2004-2008)

 

 

 

 

Stephen Montgomery, Ethnic Studies Content Lead

 

Education Specialist Degree, Educational Administration and Supervision

(St, Mary’s University of Minnesota, January 2023-May 2025)

 

M.Ed.., Urban Education/Teacher Education

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 2008-2009)

 

Masters of Public Administration (Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

(Arkansas State University, 2015-2016)

 

B.A., Communications

University of Minnesota/Twin Cities 2011-2014)

 

Tery Emery, Advanced Learners Content Lead

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