About Me

Hello! I am grateful you are interested in who I am! One of my childhood friends remembers me wanting to be a teacher in Kindergarten. While I don’t remember that exactly – I recall wanting to be an astronaut or a lawyer but I do know that I have lived my entire life since kindergarten in schools or learning myself. I started tutoring children during high school and continued throughout college. I began my career as a high school International Baccalaureate Spanish Teacher at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis and have since served in both urban and suburban school districts in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area for over 20 years. My experience in educational leadership has included Spanish Teacher, Teacher on Special Assignment, Assistant Principal, Associate Principal and Adjunct Professor. I believe that quality learning and teaching is one of the most important social justice issues of our time.

I am passionate about equity and learning. I value relationships and teamwork. I believe in education that is technology forward and relevant. My top 5 in the Strengths Finder are: Ideation, Strategic, Learner, Achiever and Relator. On the Myers-Briggs, I am a rare INTJ. I am bilingual in Spanish and English.

I am a proud first generation college student and will be forever grateful for my degrees from Saint Olaf College and the University of Saint Thomas. In the winter of 2017, I was accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership program. “The certificate program brings together education professionals from around the world to create a dynamic community of practice. Leveraging the resources of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the collective wisdom and expertise of program colleagues, participants will develop strategies for system-level change that can be implemented both immediately and over the long term.” (Harvard Graduate School of Education Certificate in Advanced Education Leadership) In the summer of 2014, I was blessed with the opportunity to be selected to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s National Institute for Urban School Leaders.

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Professional Development and Instructional Leadership

Student Discipline and Management

Special Education

Scheduling for Social Justice and Student Voice

 

LEADERSHIP COURSES TAUGHT:

Legal and Ethical Issues in Education

Leadership and Human Resources Management in Education

Educational Policy and Administration

 

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

Ed.S., Educational Leadership, University of Saint Thomas (2010)

M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Saint Thomas (2004)

B.A., Spanish, Education, American Racial and Multicultural Studies, Saint Olaf College (2000)

 

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES:

Licensed MN Spanish Teacher 7-12

Licensed MN K-12 Principal

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (Hennepin Division President-Elect)

 

Thanks for visiting my webpage. Please connect with me and share your story.

-Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.