WINONA, Minn. – The next personnel director at Winona Schools, for whom a search is under way, will have a priority assignment to expand the presence of people of color on the faculty, said Superintendent Brad Berzinski. Of 247 licensed staff members, only five are persons of color — 2%. Of the District’s 2,400 students, 21.1% are of color. Good pedagogical practice, according to experts, is for students of color to feel represented at school by having teachers of color. Berzinski said the new personnel director will embark on a marketing project to attract minority faculty with state-provided stipends toward licensure. Stipends include tuition and living expenses.
