Dr. Jenna Mitchler Receives Outstanding Central Office Leader Award
March 6, 2024
The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Dr. Jenna Mitchler, Assistant Superintendent of Bloomington Public Schools (BPS), the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award. She received this award for exhibiting a willingness to take risks, possessing strong communication skills, being a progressive change agent, and having high expectations for herself and others. Dr. Mitchler will be honored for her leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference held March 14-15, 2024.
As the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Mitchler leads pivotal efforts in Cultural Proficiency, student achievement, and school climate. Under her guidance, BPS has experienced the creation of a groundbreaking Safe and Supportive Schools plan through a collaborative design thinking process, incorporating innovative strategies such as animal-assisted therapy, expansion of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and restorative practices, all proactively implemented even before the introduction of new legislation. These initiatives, alongside heightened social work support, have notably enhanced the well-being of both students and staff. The integration of a comprehensive school climate survey, woven into individual school improvement plans, consistently reveals positive trends over the past five years.
Dr. Mitchler boasts a successful track record in supervising and guiding principals, budget management, and retaining high-quality staff. Her expertise in instructional leadership played a key role in students exceeding the Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) national projections for academic achievement upon the resumption of in-person learning post-COVID.
Dr. Mitchler is an active member of MASA and serves on the Board of Directors and the Legislative sub-committee. Beyond MASA, she is the President of the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development Alumni Board and is an executive board member of the Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative. Additionally, Dr. Mitchler is a governing board member for the Minnesota Early Childhood Longitudinal Data System (ECLDS) Board.
In 2022, Dr. Mitchler was awarded a Fulbright scholarship by the U.S. Department of State Foreign Scholarship Board. She used the scholarship funds to lead educational practitioners in program evaluation and continuous improvement in both Central Asia and Eastern Africa, and most recently working with a non-profit in Tajikistan to help improve student achievement outcomes. Dr. Mitchler has served as Assistant Superintendent of BPS since 2019. Prior to her current role with BPS, Dr. Mitchler was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Student Support for the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District. She began her career in Minnesota with BPS, as a high-school English Teacher and then as Lead Curriculum and Instruction Specialist. Dr. Mitchler also served in the United States Peace Corps in Malawi as a Secondary School Teacher and Teacher Development Facilitator from 2007 to 2009.
Dr. Mitchler received a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction - Culture & Teaching from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a bachelor’s degree in English Education and Coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Each year, MASA recognizes members for their contribution to public education. MASA is a professional organization of Minnesota’s school leaders, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of special education, and other central office administrators, as well as state department administrators, college and university professors, and other educators throughout Minnesota dedicated to educational leadership for students.
Each year, MASA recognizes members for their contribution to public education. MASA is a professional organization of Minnesota’s school leaders, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of special education, and other central office administrators, as well as state department administrators, college and university professors, and other educators throughout Minnesota dedicated to educational leadership for students.