Oct 20, 2025

Concluding Comments >>>>> >Journal of the K-12 Revolution: Essays and Research from Minneapolis, Minnesota<, Volume XII, Number Four, November 2025

Those Most Responsible for Abysmal Student Academic Proficiency Rates at the Minneapolis Public Schools:

 

Insufficient Academic Credentials of Key Decision-Makers at the Minneapolis Public Schools

 

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.

 

Below I provide the factual information pertinent to the insufficient academic training of those at the Davis Center (central offices) of the Minneapolis Public Schools. 

 

Notice that not a single staff member listed below has a graduate degree in a key subject area (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history, government, geography, economics, literature, fine arts) and that many of these staff members responsible for curriculum and teacher quality do not even have a bachelor’s degree in one of the key areas. 

 

Perpend  >>>>>

 

Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams and Her Cabinet

 

 

Lisa Sayles-Adams              

  

Ed, D., Educational Leadership (2022)

Minnesota State University/Mankato

 

M.A., Curriculum and Instruction (2002)

University of Minnesota/Twin Cities 

 

B.A. Political Science        (1992)

University of Minnesota/Twin Cities

                                                                                                                                       

 

…………………………………………………………………………..

 

 

Ty Thompson (Deputy Superintendent)

 

M.Ed., Leadership in Education

(University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, 2013)

 

B.A.

(Occidental College, 1999-2003)

 

 

Melissa Sonnek (Senior Academic Officer)

 

M.S., Education

(Winona State University, 2013)

 

B.A., Elementary Education

 

…………………………………………………………………………..

 

Shawn Harris-Berry (Associate Superintendent)

 

Academic Degree/Credential

 

Bachelor’s Degree, Business Education                    

(University of Wisconsin/Eau Claire WI, 1985)

 

M. Ed., Secondary School Administration                        

(University of St. Thomas, 1995)

           

Ed.D., Educational Leadership              

St. Mary’s University, 2005)                    

 

Other Credentials

 

Teaching License

Administrative License – District Superintendent

Administrative License – K-12 Principal

Administrative License – Secondary School Principal

 

 

Yusuf Abdullah (Associate Superintendent)

 

Academic Degree/Credential

 

Superintendent License/Educational Leadership (General)

(St. Cloud State University, January 2022-August 2022)

 

Educational Administrator License

(St. Cloud State University, 2008-2010)

 

M.Ed. Urban Education and Leadership

(University of Minnesota/Duluth, 1999-2006)

 

Bachelor of Applied Science, Health and Physical Education

(University of Minnesota/Duluth, 1994-1999)

                                                            

 

Lametria Eaddy (Associate Superintendent)

 

Academic Degree/Credential

 

Ph. D., Educational Leadership & Administration, General

(Western Michigan University, 2019)

 

M.A. Curriculum & Instruction

(Saginaw Valley State University, 2006-2009)

 

B.A., English

(Howard University, 1993-1996)

 

 

Liz Keenan (Associate Superintendent)

 

Academic Degree/Credential

 

Ph. D., Educational Leadership, General

(Marian University of Fond du Lac, August 2006-May 2013)

 

M.Ed., Special Education Director

(St. Cloud State University, September 1997-2000)

 

 

Academic Core & Instruction Staff

 

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) 

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