Stillwater Schools Hire 'Superintendent Of The Year' To Lead District

STILLWATER, MN — Stillwater Area Public Schools will have a new leader this summer after the district’s board chose Albert Lea Schools chief Michael Funk as its next superintendent.

The board unanimously voted Friday night to name Funk as the district’s first permanent superintendent in two years.

Board chair Alison Sherman said Funk “not only meets, but exceeds” officials’ expectations for the district’s new superintendent.

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“As the new leader of Stillwater Area Public Schools, Dr. Funk will be able to build on the past work and successes the Stillwater Area School District is known for, and he is committed to moving the district forward,” Sherman said in a statement. “We are excited for this next chapter of student achievements to begin.”

Sherman called Funk immediately after the board approved his hiring Friday night and then relayed Funk’s gratitude and excitement to board members.

“He is thrilled,” Sherman said. “He could not be more excited.”

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Funk was recently named the 2022 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.

Funk, who has led Albert Lea Area Schools since 2009, earned the honor for developing “systems to support an equity framework that has reduced barriers to student learning, provided focused resources for students, and provided quality professional development opportunities to staff,” MASA officials said in a news release.

Districtwide graduation rates climbed from 68 percent in 2012 to 81 percent in 2021 under Funk’s leadership, MASA said.

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Prior to joining Albert Lea Area Schools, Funk served as superintendent of the Bird Island Olivia Lake Lillian School District. He also taught social studies at Dover-Eyota and served as a high school principal in Pepin, Wisconsin, MASA said.

Funk retired from the U.S. Army National Guard as a colonel in 2018 after serving for 30 years. He oversaw the Minnesota National Guard’s security operations for Super Bowl LII in February 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, according to MASA.

The SAPS board hopes to approve Funk’s contract by mid-April, with the new superintendent expected to start July 1.

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Funk was named in March as one of two finalists to succeed Michael Baumann as superintendent of Lakeville Area Schools.

Malinda Landsfeldt, who has served as interim superintendent for Stillwater Area Public Schools since 2020, was among four finalists for the position.

Rock Ridge Public Schools Superintendent Noel Schmidt and Steve Troen, director of teaching and learning for Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan District 196, were the other two finalists.

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