The Robbinsdale Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to select Dr. Teri Staloch as the district’s next superintendent.
“Dr. Staloch has demonstrated through her experience and skills that she has the qualifications necessary to lead Robbinsdale Area Schools,” Chair ReNae Bowman said. “Her leadership experience, students-first decision-making, focus on collaboration, strong communication skills, and her dedication to ensuring a safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff make her the right fit for our district.”
Staloch has a career in K-12 education, which includes previous experience as an English teacher, assistant superintendent at Osseo Area Schools from 2012 to 2015 and a district superintendent, at Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools from 2015 and 2022. She is currently the Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for PartnerED Consultants and is a Senior Educational Consultant for SitelogIQ.
St. Louis Park superintendent search
In 2021, some students who attended Prior Lake High School were circulating racist videos, including one telling a specific Black student who suffered from mental illness to kill herself.
Staloch, who was superintended at Prior Lake School-Savage School District at the time, released a letter to the community saying they “will not tolerate racism and hate speech” and were taking “swift and appropriate action.” The Savage Police Department investigated the incident and Staloch later said one of the students who created the video was removed from the district. However, protestors did not believe Staloch had done enough to address the issue. Activists interrupted meetings and demanded more accountability from the school and specifically the superintendent.
Staloch left the Prior Lake-Savage district in 2022, and then applied for the superintendent position at St. Louis Park Public Schools earlier this year. The Minnesota School Boards Association was conducting the search for St. Louis Park Public Schools.
Per previous Sun reporting, Staloch was one of two finalists. During March interviews, which were open to the public, Staloch was repeatedly interrupted by protesters. Demonstrators were asked repeatedly by the chair to leave the room.
During the interview with the other candidate, Dr. Carla Hines, there were no disruptions. Hines was offered the role and is expected to begin July 1.
Robbinsdale superintendent search
Marti Voight has been serving as interim superintendent since November. Superintendent David Engstrom officially resigned on Sept. 18, about two years after he started July 1, 2021. Engstrom had been hired to replace Carlton Jenkins. The Minnesota School Boards Association led the search for Robbinsdale’s superintendent search as well. First, Robbinsdale Area Schools interviewed six candidates. No one emerged as a winner. Eventually, the board voted 5-2 to postpone the search until a new batch of candidates came forward.
On May 28, Robbinsdale Area Schools interviewed Staloch. They asked Staloch about the racist viral video incident.
According to Staloch, she was “deeply engaged in racial equity work” at Osseo Area Schools. When she moved to Prior Lakes-Savage, she said she had a lot of conversations and collected data. Equity work was identified as an area in need of improvement. Staloch said Prior Lake-Savage “simply had not yet engaged in equity work.”
“I knew that you can’t lead if you don’t have people following you,” Staloch said.
She recalled meetings, research and eventually creating an “equity excellence plan.”
Staloch spoke about changing policies, elevating student voices, professional development and training, culturally responsive pedagogy and community engagement.
“I could not be more proud of the work that I lead in our school district and community around racial equity,” Staloch said.
In November of 2021, Staloch recalled getting a text message about the viral video.
“By the time I got to my office, I had at least 50 voicemails and threats,” Staloch said. “...The video got picked up nationally by a social media influencer.”
Staloch said she focused on “our kids, our staff and our community” instead of the “noise” online. She spoke about “gathering people to help.” There were restorative circles, many conversations and protests. Staloch spoke highly of the students of color who spoke up about their experiences as well as white students who listened. Policies and procedures were evaluated and modified.
Why did Staloch leave Prior Lakes-Savage Area Schools? She told the Robbinsdale Board of Directors it had nothing to do with the racist video incident.
“I knew I had taken the district where I was gonna be able to take it,” Staloch said. “And I knew it was time. I think leaders have a season. And I knew it was time for the next person to take it to the next level, which they have.
“So, I believe left the district far better than I found it in a multitude of ways. Mostly, around racial equity.”
Staloch’s interview can be viewed online at rdale.org/discover/school-board. Her comments about the racist video incident begin at 1:11:30 of the May 28 video labeled “Superintendent Deliberations.”
The board for Robbinsdale Schools also asked Staloch about her knowledge of finances, staff retention and other skills. Satisfied with her responses, the board showed a rare moment of total agreement. They voted 7-0 to offer Staloch the job.
The Sun Post asked Barb Dorn of the Minnesota School Boards Association how Robbinsdale Area Schools’ timeline for finding a superintendent compared with other districts. The association has conducted about 28 searches throughout the state this year and is now moving into the season of finding interim superintendents.
“There’s no standard, cookie-cutter kind of search,” Dorn said. “It depends on the needs of the district, the direction the school board takes the search and the candidate pool. So some searches take longer than others. This was a little longer than some have taken previously, but it really just depends. Every district is so different.”
Robbinsdale Area Schools’ Board of Directors is negotiating a contract with Staloch. The proposed start date for Staloch to assume her new role is July 1.
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