Two years after Burnsville-Eagan-Savage lost its superintendent to the St. Paul school district, St. Paul is returning the favor.
Theresa Battle, assistant superintendent for high schools in the St. Paul district, was unanimously selected Wednesday to be the next superintendent in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage.
Good morning! I am truly thankful to the District 191 Board of Education for believing in me and to the students, staff, parents; business partners and community members for your commitment to the success of each student enrolled in the district!https://t.co/GEcERqhon1
— Theresa Battle (@DrTBattle) April 18, 2019
She beat out the only other finalist, Belle Plaine superintendent Ryan Laager.
“Dr. Battle’s values align with our district’s, and her experience and skills, particularly in the area of equity, will help us deliver on our mission of ensuring each student is future ready and community strong,” board chairwoman Abigail Alt said in a news release.
Battle, 57, has been in her current job since 2013. She previously worked as a teacher and principal in St. Paul and assistant superintendent in Minneapolis.
She’ll take over for the retiring Cindy Amoroso this summer. Amoroso took the job in 2017 when superintendent Joe Gothard left to lead the St. Paul district.
Brenda Cassellius, who left office in January after eight years as Gov. Mark Dayton’s education commissioner, also was a finalist for the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage job but withdrew last week.
Cassellius is one of five finalists for Michigan’s state superintendent of schools and one of three finalists for superintendent of Boston Public Schools.