New Principals in Robbinsdale Area Schools

The 2012-2013 school year will welcome several new principals to the Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Leona Robinson-Derden has been named the new principal of Northport Elementary School, replacing Patrick Smith, who took a job with the elementary school he attended as a child. Ms. Derden has over 15 years in education as a teacher, principal, and an area director of educational services, and was recognized by the Governor of Minnesota for her work in improving test scores. In her career, she has worked with many students from many different backgrounds, witnessing them meeting and exceeding high expectations.

The district administration will recommend Alejandra Estrada-Burt to the School Board to become the assistant principal at Northport, joining Ms. Derden. Ms. Estrada-Burt comes to the district from Brooklyn Park, where she spent the last seven years as both an English Language (EL) teacher and in a building leadership position. She will be taking the place of the current assistant principal, Brendon Schwirtz, who is leaving Robbinsdale to take an administrative position in the White Bear Lakes school district, where he lives.

Leia Ward will become the new principal of Sonnesyn Elementary, as Jim Calhoun leaves to become an assistant principal at Robbinsdale Cooper High School. Ms. Ward has spent her education career in the Osseo Area Schools as a teacher and assistant principal, most recently at Edinbrook Elementary in the Osseo district. There, she built relationships with students, staff and families, and implemented programs designed to increase parent and community involvement.

Both Ms. Derden and Ms. Ward were introduced to the School Board at the June 18th meeting, and will officially begin in July.

Editor's Note: The content above was provied by the Robbinsdale Area School District.