Leadership Change at Benjamin E. Mays IB World School

Dear Benjamin E. Mays IB World School Community,

I am writing to let you know that Principal Dr. Kenneth Turner has informed us that he will resign his position and leave Benjamin E. Mays at the end of the 2024-25 school year. I would like to thank Dr. Turner for his leadership at Benjamin E. Mays and Saint Paul Public Schools.

As we move forward in selecting the next principal of Benjamin E. Mays, we want to make sure you are informed and involved. We will miss Dr. Turner at Benjamin E. Mays, and we are committed to finding an excellent new leader for this community.

The district will post the principal position this week in an effort to attract a strong pool of candidates before the end of the month. This is a change from the original plan to hire a principal for the Afrocentric program in December. The new principal is expected to lead Benjamin E. Mays for the 2025-26 school year and continue as we transition to the Afrocentric program in 2026-27.

Qualified candidates will be invited to a school-level interview. Administration will work with the school community to select an interview panel, which will include parents, staff members and Afrocentric program workgroup members to be part of the interview process. The school-level interview committee will also submit two specific interview questions to be asked of all candidates. 

Thank you for supporting your child and Benjamin E. Mays. If you have any questions, please contact me at nancy.paez@spps.org.

In Partnership,

Nancy D. Páez, Assistant Superintendent