Minneapolis Public Schools names two superintendent finalists

Two finalists have been named for superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools.

They are Sonia Stewart, deputy superintendent of Hamilton County Public Schools in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Lisa Sayles-Adams, superintendent of Eastern Carver County Schools in the Twin Cities.

The school board will meet at 4 p.m. Dec. 1 to make its final choice, with a start date to be set with the new superintendent after contract negotiations and approval.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend one of the meet-and-greet events the district has set for each finalist and to watch the interviews the MPS school board will conduct. Stewart's interview with the board is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday and Sayles-Adams' is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Sayles-Adams was with St. Paul Public Schools, with 37,000 students, in roles such as middle school and elementary school principal, and later assistant superintendent for five years. In 2019, she served as assistant superintendent in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District before taking the helm at Eastern Carver County Schools, which has 9,600 students, in 2020. She taught in Minneapolis and served as principal of City Alternative High School before taking principal jobs in Georgia.

She has a doctorate in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Stewart serves a district with 44,000 students. In her deputy superintendent role she supervises departments including School Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Opportunity and Access, and Social Emotional and Academic Development. Her background includes 13 years working in Nashville's public schools.

Stewart holds a doctorate of education from Vanderbilt University.

Minneapolis Public Schools' search for a new leader stretched for more than a year after the appointment of Rochelle Cox as interim leader for Minnesota's fourth-largest school district.

The district's next permanent leader will start the job as its schools face financial headwinds amid steadily declining enrollment. District financial analysts say the district is built to accommodate more than 40,000 students. Current enrollment is about 27,000 and will likely shrink further, although analysts say the steepest drops are in the past.

A committee composed of school board members, students, district educators and representatives from the community selected finalists last week.

"I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the members of the Search Task Force for your invaluable contributions to this process," said Sharon El-Amin, chair of the MPS board. "Your perspectives, expertise, and dedication to Minneapolis Public Schools have helped ensure we will have an excellent next leader."

An extensive national search conducted by BWP & Associates yielded 25 applicants from 16 states.

At the meet-and-greet events, interpreters will be available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.

Star Tribune staff writer Eder Campuzano contributed to this article.