18 October 2023
St. Paul Public School’s superintendent has been named the 2024 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.
Superintendent Joe Gothard (Courtesy of St. Paul Public Schools)
Joe Gothard, who has been with St. Paul Public Schools since 2017, will be eligible for the national honor. That will be announced at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education in February.
A panel of representatives from a several Minnesota education groups chose Gothard for the state award. Nominees are evaluated on leadership for learning, communication skills, professionalism, and community involvement.
“Dr. Gothard’s selection as the 2024 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence in education and his exceptional leadership in our state’s educational community,” said MASA Executive Director Dr. Deb Henton in a statement. “His innovative leadership and dedication to fostering a supportive and equitable learning environment have significantly impacted the success of all SPPS students and educators. We congratulate Dr. Gothard, and we look forward to his continued successful contributions to SPPS and Minnesota’s education system.”
Gothard came to SPPS from the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District where he was the superintendent for four years. He began his career as a biology teacher in Madison, Wis.
Among his acievements, the MASA noted Gothard’s “transformative change for SPPS with American Rescue Plan (ARP) spending” to create an Innovaiton Office that supported inititatives across the district.
More information on the award can be found at: mnasa.org/gothard-superintendent-of-the-year.html