Strong community engagement at EPHS principal forum

The Eden Prairie Schools community turned out in large numbers on Thursday, April 11, for a high school principal candidate forum, hosted by the district to introduce three finalists for the role.

About 115 community members, families, staff, and students attended the event, held from 5 to 7:15 p.m. at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS). Originally scheduled to be held in a smaller space, the event was moved to the high school auditorium after 160 people RSVP’d and submitted questions for candidates.

The three finalist candidates who were interviewed are Jaysen Anderson, current principal of Bloomington Jefferson High School; Nick Kremer, current principal of EP Online; and Jason Paurus, current principal of Rogers High School. The new hire will take over the role from current EPHS Principal Nate Gibbs, starting with the 2024-25 school year.

Prior to the event, attendees mingled in the high school’s north entrance foyer and enjoyed light refreshments and conversation, then moved to the auditorium. Each attendee was given small sheets of notepaper to write questions, a three-page response packet with questions listed, and a pen.

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Superintendent Josh Swanson welcomed the crowd shortly after 5 p.m. He noted that candidates had already met with students, department leaders, and administrators earlier in the day, and would have another interview after the community forum.

“It’s really been important for us to be really inclusive as we go through this process, hearing lots of different perspectives and ideas, so I appreciate you taking an interest in being here,” he said.

Dirk Tedmon, executive director of marketing and communications for EP Schools, explained the discussion’s ground rules and parameters.

Attendees were asked to keep the district’s core values in mind as they listened to candidates. The audience was also asked not to take photographs or record the interviews, out of respect for the candidates.

Candidates were then interviewed individually on stage by Grace Becker, director of marketing and communications for EP Schools. Each candidate was asked the same questions, which they had not seen in advance. Initial questions were:

• Why did you apply, and how does your experience set EPHS up for success?
• How do you keep a school safe and manage student behaviors?
• How do you ensure inclusion and belonging?
• How do you promote academic rigor and support student needs?
• How do you manage communication with a school community?

These were followed by further questions submitted by the audience, which included how candidates would address chronic absenteeism, including students skipping class and roaming the hallways; how the candidate’s personal life experiences would help them engage with students and what they considered the biggest challenges students are facing in the world; and how they would build a unified community with robust and authentic school spirit.

The audience was asked to rate each candidate’s answers as great, OK, or not great and to leave additional feedback if they had any. District staff then collected the response sheets.

Throughout the process, the audience was visibly engaged in recording their responses, reacting to answers, and passing questions to district staff. There was not enough time in the schedule for candidates to answer audience questions. However, Tedmon said these will be reviewed and built into remaining interviews, as appropriate.

The district has indicated that soon after the superintendent’s cabinet conducts final-round interviews next week, it hopes to make a hiring decision. Learn more about the job search on the district website.