Three finalists named for St. Paul superintendent opening
Updated 4:35 p.m. | Posted 3:52 p.m.
Finalists for the next St. Paul schools superintendent include the current leader of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district and two out-of-state candidates, according to a district announcement Thursday.
Joseph Gothard of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district, Cheryl Logan, chief academic support officer in the Philadelphia school district, and Orlando Ramos, a regional superintendent in Milwaukee Public Schools are in the running for St. Paul's top job.
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Ramos was also a finalist for superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools Community District. However, St. Paul school board chair Jon Schumacher said late Thursday that Ramos had withdrawn as a candidate for Detroit to focus on the St. Paul job.
Gothard has led the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district since 2013. Logan joined the Philadelphia school district in 2013. Prior to that she was a principal in two Maryland school districts, according to a profile on the St. Paul schools site.
St. Paul has not had a permanent superintendent since June, when the board fired former leader Valeria Silva. Retired Roseville superintendent John Thein is the district's interim leader.
St. Paul school board members chose the finalists Wednesday from a pool of 13 semifinalists selected by the district's search firm. The board plans to interview the finalists March 30. Community members can meet the finalists at an event March 29 at Washington Technology Magnet School, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.