Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, superintendent for Hopkins Public Schools, is “the first woman and person of color in the superintendent’s office in the west metro school district, part of a changing face of leadership that reflects the increasingly diverse student body it serves,” according to a recent Star Tribune feature story.

In 2000 Mhiripiri-Reed received her master’s degree in educational policy and administration. The Department of Education Policy and Administration (EDPA) merged with another department in 2009 to form the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD).

“She has ambitious goals for the first-ring suburban district and aims to overhaul how education looks and acts,” writes Star Tribune reporter Kelly Smith. “She says she wants to break the old model of kids sitting in rows of desks to memorize facts for standardized tests. Instead, she wants to make classroom design and curriculum more student-centered and focused on emerging skills. Her approach follows a shift at some colleges, which have dropped ACT or SAT admissions requirements for a more comprehensive assessment that includes grades, interviews and essays.”

Read the full article: Breaking the K-12 ceiling: Hopkins superintendent makes history