Superintendent Search

School board names two finalists

A graphic spells Welcome Brad Berzinski, next superintendent of Winona Area Public Schools next to his picture

(Update 5/31/23): Brad Berzinski is coming home.

The Winona Area Public Schools board on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, unanimously voted to select Brad Berzinski as the district’s next superintendent.

“The board is thrilled to have Brad begin as a superintendent in WAPS,” chair Nancy Denzer said. “He did an exceptional job in both the first and second interviews. He is well prepared to help move our district forward.”

Berzinski attended Winona Area Public Schools and is a Winona Senior High School graduate. He previously served as an athletic director, principal and teacher in the district. He is currently the principal of St. Charles High School.

The school board will enter into contract negotiations with Berzinski later this week. The contract is expected to be approved by the school board at its regular meeting on Thursday, June 8.

The pending start date for Berzinski will be July 1, 2023.

Previous updates

Two finalists named in superintendent search (5/25/23)
Semifinalists named in superintendent search (5/23/23)

The Winona Area Public Schools Board is working with the Minnesota School Boards Association to select a new superintendent. This website will be updated with resources and information until our next leader begins on July 1, 2023.

An important part of the search process is gathering stakeholder input for the board to consider as it moves forward in selecting the new superintendent. The school board is working with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to guide and provide assistance throughout the process, and MSBA has two ways for the school community to get involved — a search survey and a virtual Q & A session.

Please click through the information below to learn more about how you can lend your voice to this process.

Stakeholder Survey

Families, students, staff members and community members were invited to fill out an anonymous survey that seeks to determine what the school community is looking for in its next leader. The survey closed on May 7.

The school board reviewed the results of the Stakeholder Report in detail at a special board meeting held May 18. The district’s superintendent search firm, MSBA, highlighted the alignment between stakeholder responses and the hiring criteria already identified by the school board, both in terms of quantitative as well as qualitative data submitted. Using this information the board will now lean heavily on the Stakeholder Survey results to inform their deliberations regarding the candidates and whether they are a great fit to lead WAPS. These stakeholder survey results are a critical part of the decision-making process and have given the board solid insights and much-needed feedback to assist them in moving forward with the search process. Again, our thanks to everyone who participated in the Superintendent Search Survey process!

STAKEHOLDER SURVEY REPORT

Q and A with MSBA

Timeline

April 27, 2023	Special Board Meeting: School board adopts search timeline, reviews hiring criteria, search procedures, market positioning and stakeholder involvement.
April 28-May 7, 2023	Stakeholder online survey open.
May 3, 2023 (4 p.m.)	MSBA facilitates virtual informational Q and A session.
April 28 to May 15, 2023	MSBA posts opening on websites (MSBA, MASA, EdPost, Revelus), advertises position vacancy, receives applications and responds to applicants' inquiries.
May 4, 2023 (6 p.m.)	Board meets for interview training and to discuss interview questions and procedures.
May 15, 2023	Application deadline.
May 16-23, 2023	MSBA conducts screening, preliminary verification of references, pre-interviews of recommended applicants.
May 17-23, 2023	Board members review applications.
May 18, 2023 (6 p.m.)	MSBA presents stakeholder report.
May 23, 2023 (4 p.m.)	Board meets to determine finalists, interview questions and procedures.
May 25 & 26, 2023 (3 p.m.)	Board conducts first round of interviews.
May 31, 2023 (2 p.m.)	Board conducts reference checks and holds second round of interviews. Board selects lone finalist and sets negotiations process.
June 1, 2023 (Time TBD)	Board committee begins negotiations of employment contract with lone finalist.
June 8, 2023 (6 p.m.)	Board meets to approve employment contract.
July 1, 2023	New Superintendent reports to work.

PRINTABLE VERSION

Application Process

To be considered for this position, an applicant's completed file must be received by MSBA prior to 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2023.

VACANCY BROCHURE