April 16, 2026

A Guide to the Minnesota’s Permanent School Fund Constitutional Amendment

We are hopeful that there will be an amendment on the ballot this fall for Minnesotans to vote on changing how the state distributes money from the Permanent School Fund to public schools. If the amendment passes this will mean more money for your school district!

Here is more information prepared by our friends at MSBA that you can share with your staff, school board and community. We have a lot of education to do around what the constitutional amendment is all about.

Celebrating the 2025–2026 Aspiring Superintendent Cohort

Another exceptional group of educators has successfully completed the Aspiring Superintendents Academy, engaging in meaningful learning alongside coaches Dr. Chris Mills (Thief River Falls), Dr. Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed (Hopkins), Ms. Belinda Selfors (Stewartville), Dr. Michael Thomas (Prior Lake-Savage), Ms. Marcy Doud (Intermediate District 287), and Dr. Scott Thielman (Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose). The cohort was guided by retired superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire and Dr. Lori Zimmerman of MASA.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Sourcewell for their continued support of the Aspiring Superintendents Academy. Please join me in celebrating these outstanding educators—be sure to congratulate them on this significant milestone and their commitment to leadership. 

A special shoutout to Ryan Krominga (front row in the purple) who is the first from this cohort to be named a superintendent beginning July 1 in Pillager!

2025-26 Aspiring Superintendents Academy Members

Carolyn Allston Trenteetun, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

Craig Anderson, Saint Paul Public Schools

Minda Anderson, Big Lake Public Schools

Patrick Bass, Edina Public Schools

Ed Bennett, Minneapolis Public Schools

Chris Bellmont, Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District

Tom Cooper, Holdingford Public Schools

Quennel Cooper, St. Louis Park Public Schools

Amy Eich, Rochester Public Schools

Matthew Engelhardt, Fridley Public Schools

Eric Erlandson, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools

Becky Estrada, St. Cloud Area School District

Anjie Flowers, Minnetonka Public Schools

Don Gramenz, Bloomington Public Schools

Sarah Hunter, Anoka-Hennepin Public Schools

Steven Jex, Pine Island Public Schools

Blake Karas, Minnewaska Area Schools

Cathy Kindem, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools

Melanie Kray, Southwest West Central Service Cooperative

Ryan Krominga, Pillager Public Schools

Josh Larsen, Kasson-Mantorville Public Schools

Jason Michels, Litchfield Public Schools

Akram Osman, Mankato Area Public Schools

LaNisha Paddock, St. Louis Park Public Schools

Nancy Páez, Saint Paul Public Schools

Jennifer Reichel, Mahtomedi Public Schools

Constance Robinson, St. Louis Park Public Schools

Megan Rogholt, Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools

Afolabi Runsewe, Fridley Public Schools

Harold Scott, Fridley Public Schools

Darron Sherrill, Minnesota Department of Education

Jeremy Sorenson, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools

John Stapleton, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools

Laura Steabner, Monticello Public Schools

Nathan Swenson, Edina Public Schools

Tamra Tyler, Southwest Metro Intermediate District 288

Lisa Willman, Elk River Area School District

Letter to PESLSB Re; TIER 2 Licensure

During this legislative session PELSB has brought forward a provision that would enable teachers who want to apply for a Tier 2 license to attend a teacher preparation program outside the state of MN. Currently, they must attend a program in MN. 

The education organizations sent this letter to PELSB in support of their recommendation to the legislature.

Leadership Matters!

"We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions-bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality."  – Franklin D. Roosevelt