Superintendent Chace B. Anderson has announced that he plans to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Anderson will conclude his tenure after 18 years leading the district, capping off a remarkable 43-year career in public education. He expressed deep gratitude for the support of the Wayzata community, staff, and families during his nearly two decades of service.
The following is the letter Dr. Anderson shared with WPS families:
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Dear WPS Families,
I hope this finds you well and that your children are off to a great start with their school year! From my perspective, it has been an incredible start to the school year. Thank you for your strong support of our school district and for all you do to support your kids in their academics and activities. I also appreciate your unwavering support of our teachers and staff. Our teachers are second to none and do a wonderful job of delivering high-quality instruction and fostering strong relationships with their students. It is always impressive to see everything come together as we kick off another school year. Again, my deepest thanks to each of you for your support of our work!
I am writing to let you know, although with many mixed emotions, that I have made the decision to conclude my work as the Wayzata Public Schools superintendent and retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. I have had the good fortune of serving in this role since July 1, 2008. At the conclusion of this school year, I will have enjoyed 18 wonderful years serving this community. This announcement is coming relatively early in the school year as my contract calls for a September 1 notification to the School Board regarding my intent for a contract renewal.
I started my career journey in the fall of 1983 as a middle school science teacher, football coach, and track coach in Bellevue, Nebraska. Prior to my start in Wayzata in 2008, I had 25 years of incredible experiences in other school districts. I am truly fortunate and grateful to have enjoyed a wonderful career over what will be 43 years at the conclusion of this school year. While most of my career has been serving in administrative roles, I have always tried to approach my work in a way similar to that of a teacher and a counselor. Teaching and helping others to be their best is at the core of all we do in public education, regardless of the specific titles we might hold.
My wife and I are very proud that both of our kids are graduates of Wayzata Public Schools. It was fun for us to be parents in the district for the first nine years of my tenure in this role. Our kids’ Wayzata education continues to serve them well. Serving the triple role of superintendent, school district parent, and school district resident has been rewarding in every regard. I am deeply grateful for all the kindness my family and I have experienced from so many over the years while I have worked in this role.
During the time I have been the Wayzata superintendent, there are many things I am proud of that my leadership team members, the school boards serving during my tenure, the wonderful teachers and district staff, community members, and I have been able to accomplish through strong collaboration and solid teamwork. A few achievements that we have done together include: 1) focusing on quality strategic work and responsiveness to community and school district growth, 2) building new schools and expanding/improving existing facilities, 3) delivering excellence in finance and operations, 4) improving student achievement, enhancing the student experience, and fostering student health and well-being, 5) hiring great teachers and other staff members, 6) strengthening community relations, strategic partnerships, and fostering solid traditions of governance and management with school board-administrator relationships, and 7) maintaining the value of a WPS education for all our current students and alumni.
I wish to thank you for your support, friendship, and for the confidence entrusted in me while serving as the WPS superintendent for the better part of two decades. Among my favorite occurrences are when I run into current or former parents of WPS students in the grocery store aisles, at restaurants and coffee shops, in hardware stores, and while attending school district or community events. I have always enjoyed the informal chats I have had with many of you over the years and look forward to the same in the future. This has truly been a wonderful professional experience for me. Growing up as a small-town farm kid in Iowa, I could never have imagined that I might have the good fortune of serving in the role of superintendent for a school district like Wayzata Public Schools. I find it all to be quite humbling and it is a tremendous honor to serve this school community in this capacity.
During my career, I have been fortunate to know the finest that humanity has to offer in the students, families, teachers, staff members, administrators, board members, and school community residents that I have worked with. These friendships and professional relationships have been a tremendous gift to me and all that I learned from each of you will have a lasting impact upon me for years to come. A week or two before my first interview for this position back in November of 2007, the message in my fortune cookie at a restaurant stated: “You are about to embark upon a most delightful journey.” Nothing could have been more predictive of the 18 years that were in front of me.
I will continue working hard through this school year and to the best of my ability, will help ensure the best possible leadership transition for the school district. There is plenty of rewarding work in front of us in the 2025-26 school year. It is going to be a great school year!
Please know how much my family and I appreciate being a part of this community and for all your kindness shown to each of us during the past 17 years.
With deepest respect and gratitude,
Chace B. Anderson
Superintendent