“First and foremost, we’re just really grateful,” said Dr. Josh Swanson, superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools. “As we start a new school year and look to the future, it’s an exciting time to be in our district. All the time, generosity and support we receive from our community are making such great opportunities available to students. That community support, plus around 2,000 exceptional staff, are allowing us to keep class sizes small and offer fantastic opportunities for Eden Prairie children of all ages – even as we see some of our highest enrollment numbers in the last 10 years.
“Parents, members of the School Board, every new hire, regardless of whether they’re a teacher or a bus driver – I regularly speak with all of them about what our mission should be as educators: not just teaching, but truly inspiring our kids by making positive, lasting impressions on their lives. We want them to be excited for all the big things they’ll do in their future, and how their talents and hard work will shape the world around them.
“Eden Prairie Schools is looking ahead to our own future as well. That’s probably made most clear by Flight Plan 2035: our current academic visioning process, which is shaped by the combined input of 2,500 students, staff, families and community members. That really intentional community outreach helped us discern what an Eden Prairie student should have learned and experienced by the time they graduate ten years from now, and it will help us shape programs and experiences that prepare them for a world we can’t fully imagine.
“Creating authentic and personalized learning experiences, fostering wellbeing for students and staff, and nurturing inclusive environments where everyone feels they belong had already been Eden Prairie Schools’ priorities. What makes Flight Plan 2035 our next iteration is its view toward what’s to come. It’s going to guide us as we continue showing students they’re secure and valued while teaching them transferable skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking, empowering them to apply those skills in real-world contexts, and fostering a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
“Ultimately, our hope for Flight Plan 2035 is that it will help us raise kids to become thinkers, leaders, and community contributors who use technology with purpose and intention, consider problems at their deepest level, and come up with creative solutions that propel Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the United States, and the entire world forward.
“Something else that’s exciting us this year is the launch of a new way to honor alumni, former staff and community contributors who have had big achievements either inside or outside of our district. We named 20 individuals to our inaugural class of the Eden Prairie Schools Hall of Fame, and inducted them during a brand-new event, the Eagle Excellence Showcase. It was held in partnership with the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools at our new Valley View Campus on October 4, and it was such an amazing night. When you have people like retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Holden Anderson, Peterson Farms owner Sever Peterson, Roblox founder and CEO David Baszucki, University of Minnesota Marching Band and Athletics director Dr. Betsy McCann, healthcare policy leader Dr. Nathan T. Chomilo, and journalist and New York Times published author Connie Wang in your Hall of Fame, you know there’s something really special happening in your district. And I’m only naming a few.
“It really is amazing how so many exemplars all came from the same relatively small city’s school system. It’s a testament to our district’s tradition of excellence. I take that tradition really seriously, and it guides us in every decision we make.
“And according to our community, we’re on the right track! We recently ‘graded ourselves’ by conducting a third-party, statistically valid survey of our students’ families. Ninety-seven percent of families trust Eden Prairie Schools to do what’s right for their kid, 98 percent describe our quality of education as ‘good’ or ‘excellent,’and 99 percent of respondents with EP grads believe we prepared their students for college. We were so proud to achieve such high marks, especially during an era when so much national narrative revolves around low public trust in the education system. It’s such a demonstration of the ongoing partnership and support that our community shows us, and also of the incredible work our staff members do each and every day to inspire our kids.
“And I just have to say how honored I am, personally, to be one of those staff members. As an Eden Prairie resident and proud father of a daughter who recently graduated high school and a son who is currently a sophomore, I am deeply invested in the future of this community. Inspiring its students to continue discovering, exploring, and pursuing their passions is the greatest calling I ever could have hoped for. So again, first and foremost – I’m grateful!” EdenPr.org