School Board appointment update

During its January 22 Special Meeting, the School Board selected Andre Koen of Mounds View to serve the remainder of former Board member Jonathan Weinhagen’s term which expires January 3, 2028.

After interviewing 15 candidates at public interviews on January 15 and 20, the Board selected Koen whose appointment will be announced during the January 27 regular meeting of the School Board at 7 p.m., at the District Center. He will be sworn in as a Board member at the regularly scheduled School Board meeting at 7 p.m. on February 10.

Koen has spent more than 20 years helping organizations strengthen learning systems, support diverse communities and remove barriers to success. He is the director of learning and development for the city of Minneapolis, where he leads organization-wide training initiatives for city employees. He has served on the PTA of Pinewood Elementary School and the District’s Curriculum Advisory Committee. He has two children who attend Pinewood and Edgewood Middle School.

The deadline to submit an application to fill a School Board vacancy closed at noon on December 12. The School Board has received 18 applications to fill the remainder of a term that expires January 3, 2028. 

Applicants

Pamela Anderson, New Brighton
Jake Bruhnding, Arden Hills
Claire Dawson, Roseville
Nasreen Fynewever*, New Brighton
John Hakes, Shoreview
Corbin Hilgeman, Mounds View
Cameron Japuntich, Shoreview
Zachary Johnson*, New Brighton
Andre Koen, Mounds View
Suzanne Ludwig, New Brighton
Rachel McIver Morey, New Brighton
Rich Priore, Arden Hills
Thomas Robideau, Shoreview
James Schneider, Shoreview
Andy Tilstra, Shoreview
Patrick Varro, Shoreview
Laura Wake Wiesner, Mounds View
Joshua Wing, Shoreview

*Withdrew application

Public Interviews

All meetings will take place in the evening, in the Board Room at the Mounds View District Center, 4570 Victoria Street N, Shoreview.

January 15, 2026

• 5:30-5:45 Patrick Varro
• 5:50-6:05 Laura Wake Wiesner
• 6:10-6:25 Andre Koen
• 6:30-6:45 Josh Wing
• 6:50-7:05 Andy Tilstra
• 7:10-7:25 Rachel McIver Morey
• 7:30-7:45 Corbin Hilgeman
• 7:50-8:05 Cameron Japuntich

January 20, 2026

• 5:30-5:45 James Schneider
• 5:50-6:05 John Hakes
• 6:10-6:25 Thomas Robideau
• 6:30-6:45 Rich Priore
• 6:50-7:05 Suzanne Ludwig
• 7:10-7:25 Claire Dawson
• 7:30-7:45 Pam Anderson
• 7:50-8:05 Jake Bruhnding

Appointment determined by vote

The Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. on January 22 for a special meeting of the Board (open to the public) to vote on the candidates for the appointment. A candidate will be selected at the conclusion of voting.

Appointment announced

The appointed candidate will be announced by the School Board during the January 27 regular meeting of the School Board at 7 p.m., at the District Center. 

Swearing in

The appointed candidate will be sworn in as a Board member at the regularly scheduled School Board meeting at 7 p.m. on February 10.