Dr. Staci Souhan was hired as Mounds View High School’s new associate principal this summer, replacing Gretchen Zahn, who is now associate principal of athletics and activities at Irondale High School. Souhan was a business major at the University of St. Thomas, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She originally worked in marketing for 12 years before she became an educator. She then returned to school for her masters, doctorate and administrator’s license at Hamline University, before beginning a long-lasting career in education. 

After relocating due to a market that didn’t support her career, Souhan decided to pursue education. “At the time, I was really lucky to be able to think ‘What do I want to do?’ if I [could] do anything else I wanted.  I knew it was to be an educator.”  

While getting her doctorate, Souhan faced challenges trying to get her dissertation passed but overall found the process very enjoyable and memorable. In her dissertation, Souhan conducted research on efficacy and how it impacts teachers and students. She believes that efficacy — the ability to achieve an intended result, like success —  is important for all parts of learning and plans to implement her studies here at Mounds View. “I would like to use my research to help make the professional development that teachers get more personalized, like how we differentiate [learning plans] for students. We need to differentiate for adults as well and meet their needs because that is what grows efficacy.” 

Before becoming an administrator, Souhan was a third-grade literacy teacher where she found a passion for helping kids learn to read. “I love taking a child that can’t read, especially if they feel like they can’t read or been told they can’t read, and proving to them they are a reader. And that stems from my dad because he had a learning disability, and he grew up his whole life thinking he wasn’t smart because he couldn’t read. No one had even told him ‘This isn’t you, this is us not meeting your needs or not finding a different way for you to learn it,’” Souhan said. 

Souhan also worked as an elementary principal for five years. She then moved to Irondale after being drawn in by the Mounds View school district’s equity promise. She enjoys working with high schoolers because it allows her to create more meaningful connections. This importance of creating connections comes from when Souhan was younger, where teachers made a difference in her life. “My high school teachers literally saved my life. Those teachers took time to know me, they invested in me, and they expected me to do better and to achieve. What an opportunity to be the person that gives [students] a ‘why’ [reason]  to go on and do great things and maybe see themselves better than anyone else has seen them and to believe in them — that they can do it.”

Souhan’s main goal at Mounds View is to gain and grow relationships and meet new people. “I kind of want to know what makes Mounds View tick and what makes it the amazing place that it is and continues to be.” So far, the students and staff Souhan has met have been welcoming towards her. “I was sad to leave Irondale, but I am happy to be here. There’s a difference between not being happy to be somewhere and just being sad to leave.”