SUMMER 2021
WPS NEWS Excellence. For Each and Every Student.
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Scott Gengler Named Principal of the Year Wayzata High School’s Scott Gengler has been named the 2021 Minnesota High School Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MAASP). Scott has served as Wayzata High School principal for the past seven years and considers school culture to be his greatest responsibility. Wayzata High School’s focus is that every student is prepared for post-secondary success, regardless of race, class, gender or ability. This purpose has become known as the “Wayzata Promise” over Scott’s tenure. The promise is a commitment shared by all staff to ensure that each student is afforded an opportunity to learn and grow in a safe, secure, nurturing and supportive environment. Congratulations, Scott!
Excellence in Unprecedented Times In January and February of this year, the school district commissioned a series of three parent and community surveys through the Morris-Leatherman research firm. These random sample phone surveys provide us with a wealth of knowledge to help in planning and program enhancements, while also offering some helpful comparisons to other school districts. Some highlights of what we learned: • 95% of our community and 97% of parents rate the quality of education in Wayzata Public Schools as excellent or good! • Even with everything we’ve been through this year, about half of residents think the overall quality of education we provide is somewhat or much better than three years ago. • Nine out of ten residents believe the community receives a good value from its investment in our schools. • On measures of trust, Wayzata Public Schools frequently outperforms other districts in the metro area. A few examples of how we are viewed: > 88% trust the district to do what’s right for children
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> 76% believe we do a good job involving the community in decisions about the schools > 86% rate the financial management of the district as excellent or good While we – along with most Minnesota public school districts – lost enrollment this school year due to the pandemic, families who left still consider Wayzata Public Schools a high-quality district with outstanding academics and great teachers. The majority left due to COVID learning model restrictions, and many are likely to return for the 2021-22 school year. Families who chose Distance Choice give it high marks: 79% rate it excellent or good, and one-third couldn’t identify anything to improve. 89% of parents rated their child’s hybrid learning experience (combination of in-person and distance) as excellent or good; 77% of parents rated their distance learning experience the same way. Both of these are higher than what’s been seen elsewhere in the metro. 95% of parents say the district has done a good job communicating its plans for managing school this year.
Become a COMPASS Mentor Today WPS News is published for residents and staff of Wayzata Public Schools. Contact Amy Parnell, director of communications and community engagement, at 763-745-5068 or Amy.Parnell@wayzataschools.org with questions or comments.
Join our COMPASS team! You can make a difference in the life of a Wayzata High School student. We are seeking professionals to mentor students in four different classes: Graphic Communications, Ecology of Food and Nutrition, Cybersecurity and Applied Mathematics, and Business Management and Economics. COMPASS is Wayzata High School’s Professional Career Studies Program for careerfocused juniors and seniors. Through this program, students have an opportunity to earn high school and college credit while working side-by-side with professionals in the workplace. Contact Miriam Lejonvarn at miriam.lejonvarn@wayzataschools.org for more information.
WPS Welcomes New Staff Wayzata Public Schools is pleased to welcome the following new administrators who joined the district July 1, 2021 to our school community. Congratulations! New Associate Superintendent Dr. Nathan Flansburg has been selected to serve as the district's new associate superintendent. Nathan has been an administrator and teacher with Mounds View Public Schools since 1997. New Executive Director of Finance & Business - The new executive director of business and finance will be DeeDee Kahring. DeeDee was most recently the director of finance and operations for Eastern Carver County Schools. She replaces Jim Westrum, who retired after serving in the role for 13 years. New Executive Director of Teaching & Learning - Dana Miller has been hired as the district’s new executive director of teaching and learning. Dana is currently the principal of Pioneer Ridge Middle School with Eastern Carver County Schools. She also served as teaching and learning coordinator, high school and middle school assistant principal and middle school counselor. Dana replaces Jill Johnson, who retired after 11 years with the district. New Director of Athletics & Activities - Meghan Potter has been named the new director of athletics and activities at Wayzata High School. Meghan has been the activities director for Hibbing High School since 2013 and succeeds Jaime Sherwood who retired after 25 years in the role. New Central Middle School Principal - The new Central Middle School principal will be Xavier Reed. Xavier was most recently the associate principal at Irondale High School in Mounds View Public Schools and also has experience as an equity specialist. He replaces Clark Doten, who will return to teaching at Wayzata High School.