Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mai Yia Chang
Dr. Chang has led Noble Academy for more than a decade, essentially building the school from the ground up. She arrived to this role with extensive classroom and leadership experience and has spent her 30-year career in education – first as elementary school teacher, then ELL Coordinator, Elementary and Secondary School Principal. For the past 14 years she served as Executive Director of Teaching & Learning and Deputy Superintendent of Academics. Currently she leads the District as Superintendent of Schools and is responsible for the following:
- District/State Programs
- Faculty Support & Supervision
- Student academic outcomes
- School and district accountability
- Unresolved Questions and Concerns
Mai Yia holds several academic degrees, including a bachelor from Crown College. She also earned a Masters, Education Specialist and Doctorate of Education from Hamline University. Her licenses include K-12 Superintendent, K-12 Principal, K-12 ESL, and 1-6 Elementary Education.
Dr. Chang has a proven track record of transforming schools to be recognized nationally for excellence and outperforming other districts. She believes “As educators, whatever role we may hold, we have the power to influence!” She is a professional of exceptional integrity. She leads with a strong sense of direction and a spirit of excellence. She believes much of her success is because of the value she places on getting input from the stakeholders in her organization when making critical decisions. She is a firm believer that effective leaders are not only visionaries but are also lifelong learners. Her leadership style is characterized as collective, with a growth mindset, and democratic.
Beyond the resume, here are a few interesting tidbits that you may not know about Dr. Chang:
* Enjoys hot and spicy food
* Finds delight in research and being a life-long learner
* Believes that failing isn’t losing. It’s learning. Embrace failure and move on.
Additional quotes she lives by: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” ― Douglas McArthur
“The mediocre leader tells. The good leader explains. The superior leader demonstrates. The great leader inspires.” -- Gary F. Patton