Susanne Griffin

501 Main Street SE Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414

Phone: 507-261-2423 E-Mail: sgzieb@gmail.com
SG
Objective
To secure a leadership position in a progressive, public school district that is committed to creating the
conditions to ensure every students success.
Experience
Chief Academic Officer, Minneapolis Public Schools (MN) August 2013-Present
Role requires serving as a member of the Superintendents Cabinet for a district of approximately 34,000 students.
Responsibilities include:
Planning and implementing a district-wide Strategic Planning process which included participation of over
4300 employees, parents and community members;
Overseeing the development of the districts academic plan designed to maximize the capacity of the
system to provide excellent learning environments for all students;
Collaborating with the Chief of Schools and the Director of Professional Development to determine and
design training for district leadership (i.e., executive leadership, principals, directors, supervisors and
coordinators);
Working with school principals and communities to establish transformational instructional models and
implement aligned professional development;
Working collaboratively with the Superintendents Cabinet team to coordinate efforts and ensure strong
alignment and implementation of new programs/initiatives and curriculum;
Coordinating with Human Resources to oversee posting, interviews, and selection process of academic staff;
Working with Human Resources in the recruitment, selection and assignment of academic staff and ensuring
appropriate distribution and management of resources to each academic department; and
Providing supervision and coaching to leadership staff in academic departments.
Primary Supervisory Responsibilities Include: Department of Special Education; Department of Research, Evaluation
and Assessment; Department of English Language Learners; Department of Student Support Services; Department of
College and Career Readiness; Department of Early Childhood Education; Department of Funded Programs and
School Improvement; Department of Professional Development; Department of Indian Education; Department of
Community Education; and Department of Teaching and Learning (including Department of Extended Learning and
Department of Talent Development and Advanced Learning).
Acting Superintendent, Bibb County School District (GA) January 2013-June1, 2013
At the request of the School Board, I served as the Acting Superintendent after the negotiated departure of the
Superintendent.
Responsibilities included:
Monitoring and implementing the district's Strategic Plan;
Ensuring clear, productive, communication with the School Board;
Guiding the district through an AdvancEd Accreditation visit which resulted in a recommendation for
accreditation;
Guiding the School Board, district leadership and district staff through a process to identify $18,000,000 of
reductions from the general fund budget;
Guiding the School Board, district leadership and district staff through development and implementation of a
Reduction in Force (i.e., RIF);
Monitoring, evaluating and redefining a $20,000,000 technology upgrade project;


2
Addressing pending litigation;
Pursuing grant resources through community partnerships that have the potential to increase revenue for
targeted schools or the district; and
Ensuring the smooth operation of the district on a day-to-day basis.
Primary Supervisory Responsibilities Included: Deputy Superintendents, the Chief Financial Officer and the Districts In-
House Attorney; Department of Technology; Department of Communications; Director of Strategic Partnerships and
the Welcome Center; and the Department of Capital Programs

Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Redesign
Bibb County School District (GA) July 2011-August 2013

Role required serving as a member of the Superintendents Cabinet for a district of over 24,000 students.
Responsibilities include:
Planning and implementing a district-wide Strategic Planning process which included participation of over
4300 employees, parents and community members;
Overseeing the development of a school redesign program to maximize the capacity of the system to
provide excellent learning environments for all students;
Planning and/or conducting all training for district leadership (i.e., principals, directors, supervisors and
coordinators);
Coordinating and planning activities for all redesign programs;
Working with school principals and communities to establish redesign program models and implement
transformational professional development;
Working collaboratively with the Superintendents Cabinet team to coordinate efforts and maximize
integration of new programs/initiatives and curriculum;
Coordinating with Human Resources to oversee posting, interviews, and selection process of redesign school
principals;
Working with principals and Human Resources in the recruitment, selection and assignment of staff and
ensuring adequate distribution of resources to each redesign school; and
Providing orientation, training, and coaching to staff on redesign programs.
Primary Supervisory Responsibilities Include: Department of Professional Development; Department of Federal
Programs (i.e., Title 1 Grant); School Improvement Grants (SIG); GEAR UP Grant; Department of Research, Evaluation,
Assessment and Accountability, including Records Management and Student Information Systems (Infinite Campus);
Department of Career, Technical, Agricultural Education; Department of After School Programs; District-wide
Interventions; and Associate Superintendent for Zone 2 (including ten elementary, middle and high schools and their
administrative teams)

Executive Director of School Improvement and Accountability
Rochester Public Schools (MN) July 2008-June 2011

Role required serving as a member of District Cabinet for a district of over 16,000 students.
Responsibilities included:
Participated in the development and implementation of the Districts Five-Year Strategic Plan focused on
closing the opportunity gap;
Supported low performing schools to make systemic changes which resulted in improved student
achievement;
Implemented Focus First, Focus Best Initiatives including Equity, Efficacy, Strengthening the Core, Interventions
(Reading and Math), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), including professional development
and monitoring implementation for 1000+ teachers and administrators;
Developed and maintained partnerships with community organizations; and


3
Supported Equity for all students and adults by participating as a member of District Equity Leadership Team
(DELT) and serving on the Rochester Diversity Council.
Primary Supervisory Responsibilities Included: Title 1 Grant; Integration Grant; Supervision of K-12 administrators;
Research and Assessment; Staff Development and Continuous Improvement; Diversity Program/Minority Student
Liaison Program; and Efficacy Coaches

Elementary Principal at Franklin/Montessori at Franklin Elementary Schools
Rochester Public Schools (MN) July 2001-June 2008
Served as the building principal at two elementary schools (i.e., a neighborhood school and public Montessori choice
school) that served 800+ students from diverse backgrounds ranging in age from PreK to fifth grade. Led school to
systemic changes that resulted in improved student achievement and removal from the schools in needs of
improvement list (i.e., AYP).

Elementary Principal at Churchill/Hoover Elementary Schools
Rochester Public Schools (MN) August 1995-June 2001
Served as the building principal at two elementary schools (i.e., a K-2 school and a 3-5 school) that served 600+
students ranging in age from PreK to fifth grade.

Interim Director of Special Education
Rochester Public Schools November (MN) 1998-January 1999
Served as the Interim Director of Special Education for a school district of approximately 16,000 students in PreK-21
representing all disability categories.

Educational Consultant, Mayo Clinic Cochlear Implant Program
Mayo Clinic-Rochester (MN) September 1994-June 1995
Served pediatric population of students with profound hearing losses, including assisting families and educational
teams to develop comprehensive rehabilitation plans for pediatric patients.

Speech/Language Pathologist
Rochester Public Schools (MN) September 1988-July 1994
Served preschool through high school aged students with disabilities, primarily students with hearing loss.

Education
Graduate Coursework toward Superintendents Licensure 2013-2014
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Graduate Coursework in Educational Policy and Administration 1992-1995
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Masters of Science Speech/Language Pathology 1985-1987
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Bachelors of Science Communication Disorders 1980-1984
University of Wisconsin River Falls



4
Licenses, Certificates, and Special Training
Minnesota: Speech/Language Pathologist; Expires: 2017
Minnesota: Elementary School Principal; Expires: 2017
Georgia: Speech/Language Pathology; Expires: 2016
Georgia: Educational Leadership; Expires: 2016

Training:
Fierce Conversations (Leaf Level Certified Trainer)
Efficacy Training (Participant in Teacher, Student and Parent Sessions)
Courageous Conversations About Race (Beyond Diversity I and II, LEAD Series, DELT)
Professional Learning Communities (Six Day Coaching Series, Summits and Regional Training)
Breakthrough Coaching
Common Core Georgia Performance Standards
Leader Keys Evaluation System and Teacher Keys Evaluation System
District-Wide Interventions (i.e., Read 180, Voyager Math, and AVID)
Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS)
Response to Intervention (RtI)
Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI)
Community and Volunteer Experience
Member, Communities in Schools Council of Champions
Member, Macon Promise Neighborhoods Advisory Council
Board Chair/Board Member, Child Care Resource and Referral
Board Member, Rochester Area FoundationFirst Steps
Board Member, Diversity Council
Co-Chair, Campaign Steering Committee for Joint Building VentureChild Care Resource and Referral and
Rochester Boys and Girls Club
Team Leader, International Global Action Youth Summer Camps in Ukraine, Moldova and India
Minnesota Department of Education Desegregation and Integration Task Force, Member


5
References
Dr. Bernadeia Johnson, Superintendent, Minneapolis Public Schools
1250 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: Bernadeia.Johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us
Cell Phone: (612) 267-3911

Mr. Michael Goar, Chief Executive Officer, Minneapolis Public Schools
250 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: Michael.Goar@mpls.k12.mn.us
Cell Phone: 612-666-7520

Mr. Robert Doty, Chief Operating Officer, Minneapolis Public Schools
250 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: Robert.Doty@mpls.k12.mn.us
Cell Phone: 612-668-0395

Mr. Michael Lynch, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Minneapolis Public Schools
250 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: Mike.Lynch@mpls.k12.mn.us
Work Phone: 612-668-0143
Cell Phone: 678-386-7409

Mr. Eric Moore, Director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment, Minneapolis Public Schools
250 West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: Eric.Moore@mpls.k12.mn.us
Work Phone: 612-668-0571
Cell Phone: 612-290-9254