Superintendent Search
On September 25, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Chace Anderson announced that he will retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Anderson's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the district's success and fostering a commitment to educational excellence during his nearly two decades of service.
In light of this significant transition, the Wayzata School Board has commenced a comprehensive process of identifying and hiring the next Superintendent to begin leading our esteemed school district on July 1, 2026. This crucial undertaking will involve a thoughtful and thorough search to ensure the selection of a highly-qualified and visionary leader who will continue to uphold the values and high standards of Wayzata Public Schools.
We understand the importance of this decision to our students, staff, families and community. To keep everyone informed and engaged throughout this process, we will be regularly updating this dedicated web page with the latest developments, timelines and opportunities for community input. We are committed to a transparent and inclusive process as we work together to secure the future leadership of Wayzata Public Schools.
Superintendent search firm selection
The search for a new superintendent is underway, beginning with the selection of a search firm. We have issued requests for proposals to prominent firms that have recently conducted superintendent searches for school districts in the Minnesota metro area.
A Search Committee of the School Board will review these proposals and recommend select firms to present to the full School Board on Monday, November 3, 2025. Following these presentations, the Search Committee will provide a recommendation for Board approval of a chosen search firm at the November 10, 2025, School Board meeting.
Superintendent search firms are vital in supporting the search process by offering:
- Project Planning: Developing a comprehensive approach and detailed timeline for the entire superintendent search.
- School Community Member Engagement: Assisting the School Board in designing and implementing robust school community member involvement (e.g., community, staff, student surveys/forums) to identify desired characteristics and priorities for the next superintendent.
- Recruitment and Sourcing: Conducting a national search to ensure a diverse and highly-qualified candidate pool, with a focus on executive-level education experience.
- Candidate Management: Communicating with and managing candidate expectations, including coordinating and facilitating the interview process.
- Vetting and Due Diligence: Performing thorough reference and background checks on all interviewees, including extensive deep reference checks on all finalists.
- Advisory Services: Providing ongoing advice and assistance to the School Board throughout the search and interview process.
The selected search firm will also help establish a competitive and comprehensive timeline for the search. This approach is designed to attract top talent and ultimately ensure the selection of the best future leader for our district. We remain committed to excellence for every student we serve and will partner with a firm that supports this commitment.
Superintendent search timeline
We are dedicated to a transparent superintendent search process, offering numerous opportunities for community input. This timeline is subject to change, and updates will be posted as they become available.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
|
September 2025 |
Superintendent Anderson announces retirement |
|
October 2025 |
Requests for Proposal sent to known search firms |
|
October 24, 2025 |
Proposals are due from firms |
| November 3, 2025 |
Short-listed firms present to the School Board in a public work session |
| November 10, 2025 |
School Board approves the selection of a search firm at a public School Board Meeting |
| November 2025 |
District Leaders and School Board Work with selected search firm on process and timelines |