by Dennis Dalman
St. Cloud Area School District Superintendent Laurie Putnam, a former Kennedy Community School principal, has been declared Minnesota Superintendent of the Year for 2025.
That award was just recently announced by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. The prestigious honor will now make her a candidate for National Superintendent of the Year.
St. Joseph Community School is part of the St. Cloud Area School District 742, which includes schools in four counties and nine cities: St. Cloud, Clear Lake, Clearwater, Collegeville, Luxemburg, Pleasant Lake, St. Augusta and Waite Park.
Putnam was chosen as “tops” by a panel of representatives from a variety of Minnesota education organizations. Nominees were evaluated on how each candidate demonstrates leadership for learning, communication skills, professionalism and community involvement.
“We are thrilled to honor Dr. Laurie Putnam as the 2025 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year,” said MASA Executive Director Dr. Deb Henton. “Her visionary leadership, dedication to equity and inclusion, and commitment to student success have transformed St. Cloud Area Schools and left a lasting impact on the entire community. Putnam’s efforts to foster a collaborative, inclusive learning environment inspire educational leaders across the state. We are proud to recognize her outstanding contributions and look forward to seeing the continued positive influence she will have on education in Minnesota.”
Putnam has been praised widely for closing systemic gaps that caused inequities in St. Cloud area schools. One way she did that was to prioritize recruitment and retention of teachers, staff and administrators of color.
Through strategic partnerships with community organizations and innovative “Grow Your Own” programs, the district has made significant progress in staff diversity, surpassing state and regional averages.
In Greater Minnesota, where only 1.2 percent of the teacher pool are people of color, St. Cloud Area Schools has achieved 8.5 percent representation among teachers and 21.6 percent of administrators identifying as people of color. In addition, 25 percent of newly hired administrators and 17.4 percent of the overall district staff are people of color. These efforts, MASA noted, have resulted in improved student engagement, attendance and academic performance across the district.
Putnam was also praised for dealing with insufficient funding, finding innovative solutions for funding gaps such as the Full-Service Community Schools program that provides support to students and families. She has also emphasized student-safety measures for students, families and staff.
MASA also praised Putnam for encouraging community involvement in schools, effectively navigating the district through politically sensitive issues. By adhering to her principles of “No Noise” and “Be About It, Don’t Talk About It,” she ensures the district remains focused on student needs, minimizing distractions from external agendas.
MASA pointed to Putnam’s “positive relationships with the school board, community organizations and local legislators, helping to secure support for critical initiatives like expanded preschool access and career pathway programs.”
Putnam has served as superintendent of St. Cloud Area Schools since 2022. She previously held several leadership positions, including assistant superintendent for secondary schools, principal of Kennedy Community School and assistant principal of South Junior High School. Putnam began her career in St. Cloud Area Schools in 2009 as a counselor at South Junior High School.
Putnam is an active member of MASA, currently serving on the MASA Legislative Committee, advocating for legislation policies that support all of Minnesota’s public schools.
She is also involved with the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, a Superintendents Advisory Panel, St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce (board member), a board member of United Way Partner for Student Success and the St. Cloud Rotary and a member of the U.S. Department of Education Roundtable on AI (artificial intelligence).
Putnam was the recipient of the 2023-24 MASA Region 6 District Leader of the Year Award. She also received the 2021-22 Local Education and Activities Foundation’s Instructional Excellence Award.
Putnam received a doctorate in K-12 administration and superintendent licensure from St. Cloud State University. She holds a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
Putnam lives in St. Cloud with her husband, Aric, and their two children Eliza and Phineas. Aric is the Minnesota State Senator for District 14, as well as a long-time professor of a communications course for St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict.
