Three lawyers, a pastor and a teacher are among nine finalists vying for a two-month appointment to the St. Paul school board Tuesday night.
Jean O’Connell resigned in June to protest the firing of superintendent Valeria Silva. The six remaining board members will interview prospective appointees and pick their favorite in a special meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The finalists include Tom Goldstein, a lawyer who was elected to the school board in 2006 and lost a re-election bid three years later.
Goldstein left his post two months early in 2009 so the newly elected O’Connell could take office right away amid a search for a new superintendent. Now, as the board begins its search for another superintendent, it’s Goldstein looking to take O’Connell’s place for two months.
The other finalists are:
- Melanie McMahon, community services attorney for the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
- Shamus O’Meara, a lawyer who specializes in school safety and other areas of education law
- Ali Farah, a math teacher and administrator for Universal Academy Charter School
- Wendy Robinson, vice president of student affairs at Inver Hills Community College and former student service director for the Minnesota State system
- Eduardo Barrera, economic vitality division director for the Latino nonprofit CLUES
- Cedrick Baker, equity program manager for the Metropolitan Council
- Juchoj Fang, program director for the Hmong Resilience Institute
- The Rev. Zachary Wilson, interim pastor at Peace Presbyterian Church in St. Louis Park