Waconia Public Schools

10/24/2026

BIG NEWS! Waconia Middle School Special Education Educational Assistant Amanda Phenix has been named the 2026-27 ESP of the Year!

JUST IN: Waconia's Amanda Phenix is our 2026-27 ESP of the Year!! A special education paraprofessional, she has worked in the Waconia Public Schools for 21 years. Congratulations, Amanda!

Read more: https://edmn.me/4z7EApb

10/22/2026

Three Waconia Public Schools' staff members have recently been recognized by Education Minnesota's ESP (Education Support Professionals) of the Year Program.

Amanda Phenix, a Special Education Educational Assistant at Waconia Middle School, is one of five finalists for the 2026-27 honor.

Miki Nahmensen, a Special Education Educational Assistant at Waconia High School, and Nicole Smith, a Technology Assistant at Waconia Middle School, were both named semifinalists this year.

Candidates for the award are based on five criteria including Professional Practice, Advocacy and Association, Community Engagement, Personal Achievement, and Enhancement of ESP Image.

The winner will be announced a reception in St. Paul this Saturday, October 24.

10/22/2026

Waconia Public Schools is pleased to announce that Carver County Sheriff’s Deputy Samantha Moriarty has been appointed as the new School Resource Officer (SRO) for the school district. Deputy Moriarty started in this new role on Tuesday, October 20.

Deputy Moriarty comes to ISD 110 with prior SRO experience, having served two years in the same position at White Bear Lake Area Schools. Prior to joining the White Bear Lake Police in 2023, Moriarty worked as a community service officer for the Anoka County Sheriff’s Department.

As the District’s SRO, Moriarty will work closely with school administrators to maintain a positive, visible law enforcement presence across District buildings and campuses. She will build relationships with students and staff, support school safety and security efforts, and assist the District with emergency preparedness planning and procedures. She will be based at Waconia High School while maintaining a presence in all District buildings throughout the school year.

The District would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Deputy Joelle Diersen, who is stepping away from the SRO position after two years of service.

10/22/2026

The latest edition of the CommuniCAT, the District's quarterly printed newsletter, will be arriving in mailboxes in the coming days. Stakeholders can also view an electronic version by visiting bit.ly/Fall26Communicat.

Readers can learn more about the Minnesota Permanent School Fund constitutional amendment, Waconia High School's National Merit Program honorees, the District's Accomplished Waconia Educators and Essence Award winners, and much more!

10/19/2026

Waconia Public Schools is pleased to announce that Dr. Will Remmert will serve as the District’s next Director of Human Resources. Remmert, who has 30 years of experience working in public school districts, will begin his new position on November 2, 2026.

Remmert brings more than 20 years of administrative experience and is currently serving as Principal on Special Assignment in charge of Secondary School Redesign at Mankato Public Schools. His prior experience includes stints as a principal and assistant principal in Mankato, a principal in New Prague Area Schools, a dean of students in Shakopee Public Schools, and a teacher in Lakeville Area Schools.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a Master of Education degree from St. Mary’s University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership Policy and Design from the University of Minnesota.

At Waconia Public Schools, Remmert will oversee the District’s human resources operations, including employee relations, labor relations, collective bargaining, and the development and implementation of related policies and procedures. He will work with District leadership to support staffing needs, guide personnel planning, and ensure staffing assignments align with the District’s operational needs and priorities.

“I believe Dr. Remmert is going to be a great fit for ISD 110 and for the goals and objectives we have in front of us,” Superintendent Brian Gersich said. “His experience in school leadership will be a valuable asset as we continue working to support our staff and advance the District’s priorities.”

10/09/2026

Tonight was opening night for Waconia High School's fall musical, Legally Blonde!

These student actors and the pit band are bringing the laughs, the music, and plenty of pink to the stage! This is one entertaining show you won't want to miss.

Make sure you get out and see one of the four remaining shows over the weekend. Remaining showtimes:

🩷 Friday, Oct. 9 | 7 p.m.
🩷 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 2 & 7 p.m.
🩷 Sunday, Oct. 11 | 2 p.m.

Tickets: $12 adults | $8 students and seniors
Online Ticket Link: https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/waconia/tickets

10/05/2026

We are just THREE days away from opening night of the Waconia High School Fall Musical!

Meet some of the talented cast members bringing Legally Blonde: The Musical to life this week!

Get ready for plenty of laughs, music and courtroom drama as we follow Elle Woods, Bel Air’s favorite pink-clad blonde, and her Chihuahua, Bruiser, to Harvard Law School. Along the way, Elle discovers she has far more legal savvy than anyone expected.

Showtimes:
🩷 Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7 p.m.
🩷 Friday, Oct. 9 | 7 p.m.
🩷 Saturday, Oct. 10 | 2 & 7 p.m.
🩷 Sunday, Oct. 11 | 2 p.m.

Tickets: $12 adults | $8 students and seniors
Online Ticket Link: https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/waconia/tickets

10/01/2026

Waconia High School students recently had a unique opportunity to participate in the civic process as members of Waconia Mayor Tim Litfin’s Waconia Youth Mayoral Advisory Council hosted a two-part Meet the Candidates event featuring Jessica Heger and Pat Barry, the candidates for Carver County Sheriff.

The events took place on Monday and Thursday this week, with each 20-minute session held before the start of the school day. The candidates answered questions developed by Waconia High School students, giving them an opportunity to learn more about the candidates, the role of the Carver County Sheriff, and the importance of being informed and engaged in their community.

10/01/2026

A couple of weeks ago, we announced that two Waconia High School students, Jacob Senne and Mia Tiller, had been named 2027 National Merit Semifinalists. Today, we’re proud to recognize Madelyn Hartmann, who has been named a 2027 National Merit Commended Student!

Each year, approximately 34,000 students nationwide are recognized as Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise. Madelyn earned this distinction by scoring among the top 50,000 students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall, placing her in the top 4% of all students who took the test.

Congratulations, Madelyn, on this outstanding achievement! When she is not working on academics, Madelyn is involved in the WHS National Honor Society, studio dance, the WHS Fashion Club, marching band, and jazz band.

10/01/2026

🚨Important spectator information for Friday evening's football game at Burnsville

Kickoff Friday evening at Burnsville High School will be at 5:00 p.m.

Waconia High School students WILL need to show their student ID or a live view of Infinite Campus to be allowed entry into the stadium.

Students in 8th Grade and younger will require a parent or guardian to accompany them.

No entry will be allowed after halftime, even with a ticket.

Waconia fans are required to park in the East Lot off Riverview Drive and enter the stadium through the East/Visitor Gate.

Tickets can be purchased online at gobound.com/mn/schools/burnsville/tickets