On April 18, Edina Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stacie Stanley will officially leave her position to serve as superintendent for Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS). The Edina School Board’s Governance Committee identified candidate Dr. Daniel Bittman for interim superintendent and held a special meeting on March 5 to interview him, discuss, and make a decision. They unanimously approved Dr. Bittman to serve for the 2025–26 school year as the School Board looks for a permanent superintendent this autumn, who will begin their work on June 30, 2026.
“This approach ensures the continuity of programs and services and positions us to attract and hire the best talent to lead our district into the future,” Edina Public Schools wrote in a new webpage titled “Superintendent Search.”
Dr. Stanley, who grew up in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, was approved by the SPPS school board out of three finalists after a standard application and interview process.
“The ultimate thing about her is that she’s a people person,” Edina Parent Leadership Council member Caron Trierweiler said. “She cares about people and it shows. You feel seen when you’re with her.”
Trierweiler, who has known Dr. Stanley since the beginning of her three years in Edina, said she admires Dr. Stanley’s fervent commitment to EPS values. “She has a unique ability to engage others through her continued focus on our mission that each and every student discovers their possibilities and thrives,” Trierweiler said. “There’s never been a speech where [Dr. Stanley didn’t mention] wanting each and every student to feel like they have a place here.”
Dr. Stanley brought many changes such as Countryside Elementary’s dual-language program and the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. “It’s impossible to list all the things she’s done,” Trierweiler said. “And, as a person of color, it’s really been exciting to see not only a woman in this leadership role, but a person of color. It’s made a difference in a positive way for Edina.”
Interim Dr. Bittman has worked in public education for over 30 years and has been superintendent for 15 years in the Elk River and Sauk Rapids districts. He won many accolades, including the 2016 Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) Superintendent of the Year and the 2025 MASA Distinguished Service Superintendent of the Year.
There were 11 total applicants for interim superintendent: seven from Minnesota and six with superintendent experience. The School Board’s Governance Committee narrowed the decision down to four candidates, whom they interviewed the week of Feb. 24, finally deciding on Dr. Bittman. “[The decision] was rather close. One of the things that appealed to us [was his] extensive superintendent experience—when we talked to the references, they talked about his ability to build leaders,” Edina School Board Chair Karen Gabler said. “We thought he would be a good stabilizing force.”
In the interview, Dr. Bittman shared his love for engaging with the community. “I’m a relationship person,” he said. “I love to learn and know about people—that’s important because we’re working together.” In fact, he said he sometimes tells community members a fake story about getting bad food at Applebee’s to bond with them or seem more relatable. “People don’t want to hear from the ‘superintendent,’” he said. “They want to hear from people who are in the trenches.”
While highlighting his immediate priorities of inclusion and accessibility, he explained his vision for his time serving EPS. “I want every single child to have the same opportunities that my three children had,” he said. “We are a public system that needs to make sure that kids not only have a seat at the table, but they are welcome and feel like they belong.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on March 27, 2025
