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Madison Metropolitan School District

Superintendent Search

We are excited to announce that the Board of Education has chosen Dr. Joe Gothard to lead the District as its next Superintendent, pending Board approval of his contract. 

Dr. Gothard’s selection is the culmination of a search process, supported by Alma Advisory Group, that began in May 2023 and was hallmarked by community involvement, most recently evidenced by two days of intensive stakeholder-led interviews of the three shortlisted candidates.

It also marks a homecoming for Dr. Gothard, a native Madisonian who attended MMSD schools throughout his elementary, middle, and high school years, before going on to serve as a staff member at Lincoln Elementary School and Principal at both Akira R. Toki Middle School and Robert M. La Follette High School, as well as the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools.

“Having grown up in Madison, and having attended MMSD from kindergarten through grade 12, I am excited to return home,” said Dr. Gothard. “Thank you to the Board of Education for selecting me to lead the MMSD community. I eagerly anticipate reconnecting with familiar faces, while also building new relationships with staff, students, families, and partners who are dedicated to advancing MMSD's excellence. Together, we will create a shared pride in our efforts to make MMSD the best it can be." 

Dr. Gothard’s contract will begin no later than July 1, 2024. Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad will continue to serve in her current capacity until that time, offering “her full support during Dr. Gothard’s transition to be our next Superintendent.” She further notes that "we are all eager to have Dr. Gothard here in MMSD with us, and we also acknowledge and respect that he will have details to work through as he finishes the year as St. Paul’s Superintendent.”

We look forward to formally introducing Dr. Gothard to you and the broader MMSD community in the coming weeks, with further details to come. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Madison Metropolitan School District!

Sincerely,
Nichelle Nichols
MMSD Board of Education President

Dr. Joe Gothard

Dr. Joe Gothard has been superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) since July 1, 2017, which serves approximately 33,000 students. Dr. Gothard was named the 2024 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year and AASA National Superintendent of the Year. A life-long educator,  he began his career as a teacher, coach and principal in Madison before taking on opportunities to lead in Minnesota. 

Superintendent search news

Dr. Joe Gothard

Dr. Gothard’s selection is the culmination of a search process, supported by Alma Advisory Group, that began in May 2023 and was hallmarked by community involvement, most recently evidenced by two days of intensive stakeholder-led interviews of the three shortlisted candidates.

Read More about MMSD is excited to announce that Dr. Joe Gothard has been chosen to lead the District as its next Superintendent

Our shared purpose

The shared goal and purpose of the Board of Education and the hired search firm is to recruit, screen and select the next superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District. This will be done through a transparent and accessible superintendent search process, guided by the input and needs of the greater Madison communities, and designed to mitigate bias every step of the way.

This page includes news and updates, links to agendas and meeting recordings, as well as ongoing community input through our Let's Talk platform.

Search timeline

Aug. - Oct. 2023

Stakeholder input; early recruitment begins

Nov. 2023

Job profile finalized with Board of Education; position posted

Dec. 2023

Candidates identified; initial screening interviews

Jan. 2024

Board interviews
 

Feb. 2024

Finalist round and
candidate selection

Late Feb./Early March 2024

Superintendent appointed and introduction to the community

Date Update
Feb. 7, 2024 Special meeting in closed session - discussing employment related matters and interviews associated with the hiring of a new Superintendent
Feb. 7, 2024 Special meeting in closed session -  interviews of candidates for superintendent
Feb. 7, 2024 Finalist interviews
Feb. 6, 2024

Finalist interviews
-- Noon-1:30 p.m. live-stream interviews, student panel
-- 6:30-8:55 p.m. live-stream interviews, parent/caregiver panel

Jan. 23, 2024 Special meeting in closed session - discussing employment related matters and interviews associated with the hiring of a new Superintendent
Jan. 18, 2024 Special meeting in closed session - discussing employment related matters and interviews associated with the hiring of a new Superintendent
Jan. 16, 2024 Special meeting in closed session -  interviews of candidates for superintendent
Jan. 12, 2024 Special meeting in closed session - interviews of candidates for superintendent
Jan. 4, 2024 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - interview preparation associated with the hiring of a new superintendent
Dec. 20, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 19, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 15, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (Subgroup A agenda; Subgroup B agenda; Subgroup C canceled agenda) - initial interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 14, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - initial interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 13, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - initial interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 11, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (Subgroup A agenda; Subgroup B agenda; Subgroup C agenda) - initial interviews of candidates for superintendent
Dec. 5, 2023 Special meeting in closed session (agenda) - interview preparation associated with the hiring of a new superintendent
Nov. 10, 2023 Board of Education retreat (agenda)
Oct. 30, 2023

Special meeting in open session workshop;
approval of leadership position (agendarecordingjob profile)

Oct. 17, 2023 Special meeting in open session workshop; update on data analysis and themes from the community outreach survey (agendarecordingpresentation)
Oct. 4, 2023 In-person public session at 6 p.m., Vel Phillips Memorial High School, 201 S. Gammon
Oct. 3, 2023 In-person public session at 6 p.m., La Follette High School, 702 Pflaum Road
Oct. 2, 2023 In-person public session at 6 p.m., Holtzman Building, 333 Holtzman Road
Sept. 26, 2023 Board of Education Regular Meeting, Alma Advisory Group provides an update on the search
Sept. 22, 2023 Board of Education retreat, search update discussed
July 18, 2023 Special meeting in open session workshop (agendavideo)
May 15, 2023 Board Workshop; Board has introductory meeting with search firm, Alma (agendavideo)
May 1, 2023 Board approves contract with Alma Advisory Group
April 17, 2023 Board selects Alma Advisory Group as their search firm (agendavideo)
April 17, 2023 Board evaluates and discusses interviews in closed session (agenda)
April 14, 2023 Board interviews one search firm in open session (agendavideo)
April 13, 2023 Board interviews two search firms in open session (agendavideo)
April 1, 2023 Board receives four proposals; chooses to interview three firms 
March 24, 2023 RFP closes and responses are gathered 
March 3, 2023 Board sends out Request for Proposals (RFP)  
Feb 7, 2023  Dr. Carlton Jenkins, Superintendent, announces his retirement from MMSD

 

Variety of colored pencils