Spring Lake Park High School has a new assistant principal.   Jane Stevenson, an administrator with experience in the Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and Inver Grove School Districts, is now onboard, taking the place of Mike Steel who retired at year’s end. She was selected from a pool of over 150 candidates following an extensive interview process.   For the past year, Stevenson was principal of Inver Grove Heights Middle School in the Inver Grove Heights Community Schools. Prior to this she was associate principal at the 3,200-student Eden Prairie High School in the Eden Prairie School District. During this time she was supervisor/manager responsible for staff hiring and evaluation, registration and master schedule development, and professional development for the school’s 250 staff.   She also had responsibilities for special education, English Language Learners, mathematics, science, work experience, and school psychology.

"Jane is a highly respected leader throughout the state of Minnesota," said Dr. Jeff Ronneberg, District 16 superintendent.  "The recommendations from those she has worked with - fellow administrators, teachers, and staff - in each of her previous districts are outstanding. We are fortunate to add a leader with the wide spectrum of experiences and talents Jane has demonstrated.  She is a wonderful addition to a great school."

 

Stevenson holds a MA degree in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota where she also obtained her K-12 School Principal Licensure and where she has done Doctoral course work. Her BS degree in Special Education is from St. Cloud State University.

 

As a Certified Learning Strategies/Content Enhancement Trainer, Stevenson has provided professional development training to Metro ECSC, Central MN ECSU, Minneapolis Public Schools, Eden Prairie Public Schools, and numerous out-state school districts.

 

"Jane comes to Spring Lake Park with an impressive record of working with the diverse needs of students," said Denise Waalen, District 16's director of educational services. “Her experience and knowledge with various systems and with teaching, learning, and professional development will be a tremendous asset to our already-strong high school and district administrative teams. I look forward to the vision and insight she will bring to our district."

 

Prior to becoming a principal, Stevenson was an administrative intern at Edison High School and Green Central K-8 School in the Minneapolis School District. She was also a special education teacher and lead teacher in the Minneapolis and Buffalo School Districts.

 

Stevenson takes over for Mike Steel who retired after 31 years in the school district, many as the high school’s assistant or associate principal. In his Spring Lake Park career, Steel was also acting principal, dean of students, acting athletic director, social studies teacher, the girls tennis coach, and boys hockey coach.