The Superior School Board has selected the district's next administrator.
Superior School Board President Len Albrecht announced Monday that Amy Starzecki was selected as the new district administrator of the Superior School District effective July 1.
Starzecki's contract will be acted on by the Board of Education on March 5, pending finalization of contract details and transition from her current position as assistant superintendent of the Duluth School District.
The search process began in December and included a rigorous application and several interviews. Finalists completed an extensive interview process which involved selected staff, a community forum and several opportunities for the Board of Education to meet with candidates.
"The Board is looking forward to working with Amy," Albrecht said. "Amy is a great advocate of public education, and we are very excited about what she will bring to our district."
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During the round-robin interview last week, Starzeki said that she favors collaborative leadership. The new district administrator plans to get to know the community, listen, and work together with teachers, staff and principals to understand the needs of students and form a common vision.
"You will see me in the classrooms, you will see me at schools, you will see me at after school events, and I'll be available and engaged to the highest level I can," Starzecki said. "It will always be passion for kids in any decision I make. That's front and center in any work that I do."
One of the most critical roles a superintendent plays is being the face of the district, Starzecki said, and making connections with the community.
She said success in the position is when the community takes pride in its public schools and is excited about what's happening there; success is when students and family members who walk into a school building feel welcome and know the district has high expectations for students.
"Good is the enemy of great," Starzecki said. "My goal would be to take us to a place where we're competitive across the state and people look to us as Superior schools."
Starzecki has served as Duluth assistant superintendent since 2015. Prior to joining the Duluth School District, she served as superintendent/K-12 principal in Floodwood, Minn. Starzecki began her career in education as a school psychologist. She spent seven years in leadership roles in special education before accepting a position as principal of King Elementary School in Deer River, Minn.
Starzecki has presented to the National Academy of Sciences, the Minnesota Department of Education, and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association on topics including Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS) and the Common Core Standards.
Starzecki received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and psychology from the University of North Dakota and her Master of Arts and certification in school psychology from Northern Arizona University. She obtained K-12 educational administration, special education director, and district administrator licenses through Saint Mary's University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she also currently serves as an adjunct professor for graduate level courses in educational leadership.
