Bloomington Principal Millerhagen elected MESPA president

Jon H. Millerhagen, Bloomington Washburn Elementary School principal, was elected by his peers to serve as president-elect of the Minnesota Elementary School Principal’s Association.  He will assume this responsibility on July 1 and serve a two-year term. His term will be followed by a term of two more years as MESPA president.

MESPA is the professional association of Minnesota’s elementary and middle level school principals. “On behalf of the association, I congratulate Jon Millerhagen on his newly elected position,” said P. Fred Storti, MESPA executive director.  “Jon has been an active member of MESPA for many years, and was pivotal in re-envisioning and aligning

the MESPA Minnesota School of Excellence program with national standards.  His leadership will guide elementary and middle level principals throughout the state, as MESPA continues to strengthen the development of our Minnesota schools.”

In August 1994, Elmer Koch, then executive director of MESPA, welcomed Millerhagen into an Austin elementary principal position. “I remember an exciting conversation as he encouraged me to get involved with the Southeast division principals," Millerhagen said. "Developing relationships with experienced principals helped me maneuver the challenges of learning leadership strategies, passing referendums, managing budgets, and staffing issues that resulted in success for my new school.

"I embrace the opportunity for leadership as president-elect of MESPA in order to repay the association for the rich and rewarding experience I have enjoyed as a principal," he said. "With the strategic plan as a guide, I look forward to continuing MESPA’s unique and valued service to principals in our state. “

Millerhagen served in Minnesota education for 30 years. He began his career in Luverne, where he taught fifth grade for three years; followed by 14 years teaching fifth grade at Scandia Elementary in the Forest Lake School District. His first principal’s position took him to Nevelyn Elementary in the Austin School District for three years. For the last ten years, Millerhagen served as the principal at Washburn Elementary in Bloomington.

Millerhagen’s service to MESPA is broad. He served the West Suburban division as president-elect and president for two terms. He was involved with MESPA’s search for new: legal counsel, executive director, location, and relationships with educational organizations. Recently, he chaired the committee that revised the Minnesota School of Excellence (SOE) program. This allowed him to become familiar with the exceptional principals and schools that engaged in this process throughout the years. "I am proud that Minnesota SOE has become a helpful development tool, allowing members to effectively access national research to review, evaluate and celebrate their schools,” he said.

In addition, Millerhagen served as: EPAC representative (the political action arm of MESPA); Legislative Resolutions committee representative; presenter at Surviving and Thriving in the Principalship (seminar for new principals), Institute (MESPA annual statewide convention), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) convention and MSBA (Minnesota School Boards Association) convention.

Millerhagen was honored with the 2005 Division Leadership Achievement award, and in 2001 he guided Washburn Elementary through the school improvement process to receive validation as a Minnesota School of Excellence. In addition to MESPA, Millerhagen’s professional affiliations include: NAESP, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Minnesota, and YMCA Board of Directors.