On Friday, March 6th, Wayzata wrapped up the search for our new superintendent who will begin the job starting in the fall of 2026. The school board selected Dr. Robb Virgin, who currently serves as Eden Prairie’s Assistant Superintendent. With over 20 years of experience in education (having worked as a high school principal, assistant principal, teacher, and executive director of teaching and learning), he will help lead Wayzata as the district begins a new chapter.

This decision was made by narrowing the candidate pool down to just three finalists. All three finalists underwent a rigorous hiring process with many other highly qualified candidates. Over the last week, these finalists went on a district-wide tour and were then interviewed by a large group of district employees, parents, and other community members. Finally, they were all interviewed by the Wayzata School Board before the final decision was made. Details about the final interviews and reasoning for the school board’s decision were shared with the public in a special school board meeting. The recording of this meeting can be found on Youtube, however, we will give a brief overview of the qualities of each finalist and the reasoning behind their decision. 

First: A Day in the District

All three finalists visited four schools, where they were led on a tour by a principal and two students at Birchview Elementary, Northwoods Elementary, West Middle School, and Wayzata High School. This provided an opportunity for the candidates to see learning in action and what our district spaces look like.

Second: The School Community Group Interview

These large group interviews of 36 people included district and program leaders, principals, representatives from various employee groups in addition to parent and community member representatives from various Wayzata committees and councils. Everyone who attended these interviews was asked to fill out a survey form to provide feedback on the finalist’s strengths and any further questions they would like to see answered by the candidates. 

Third: The Final School Board Interview

All finalists were then interviewed by the Wayzata School Board and were asked any final questions. The School Board members discussed their takeaways from these interviews during Friday night’s public meeting. 

During the final school board meeting, the strengths of each candidate were discussed, and a recap of what school board members gathered from reference checks was given. During the reference checks, school board members called people recommended by the candidates, as well as others who work directly with the candidates who were not recommended as references. Below are some of the key notes about each candidate are relayed by the school board and the contacted references. 

Dr. Robb Virgin:

It was repeatedly mentioned that Dr. Virgin is a strong, natural leader who answered all the questions clearly and thoroughly. Additionally, it was said that he is a very forward thinking leader who can lead our district forward within the preexisting Wayzata roadmap. He was described as innovative, and it was specifically mentioned that he wants to build on the CTE program, something he has previous similar experience doing. His passion for education and this position was clear to the school board. As far as what the reference checks revealed, people he works with described him as a calm leader with strong communication and public speaking skills. It was also noted that he makes a strong effort to connect with those he works with, always making an attempt to remember names and build personal relationships. Additionally, he was mentioned to be well-researched and a quick learner, always ready to adapt to new situations. A unique thing mentioned about him was that he always tries to start his day off in a school to connect more with the students he leads.

Dr. Rainey Briggs:

Dr. Briggs was noted as a charismatic, engaging, and approachable speaker as well as a passionate leader. His deep understanding of special education and his experience with managing school construction projects were both important factors. As for his reference checks, he was reported by others as placing a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion. One of his key qualities stated by those in his district was his deep care for students and their success. He was also portrayed by others as a strong leader who takes on responsibilities outside of his role, as well as being a person other leaders go to for help or advice. 

Cory McIntyre:

The most important strength for Mr. Cory McIntyre seemed to be his immense experience as a superintendent and his understanding of the public education system. His major connections with educators within Minnesota as well as with lawmakers was noted as a quality that could benefit Wayzata. It was appreciated by the school board that he clearly and confidently answered questions asked of him and his approach to challenges as fun problem solving was noted. As for his reference checks, he was described as a calm, sincere, and dependable leader who is good at public speaking. It was said that he takes more of a hands off approach, trusting staff to do their jobs well. It was also noted that because of his background with special education, he is a strong advocate for students and their needs. Overall, it was clear that his many connections and extensive experience would help him to thrive if chosen for the position.

After this portion of the school board meeting, the seven members shared which finalist they were leaning toward and discussed their thought processes for their picks. Initially, four members were in favor of Dr. Virgin, two were in favor of Mr. McIntyre, while one member stayed undecided. During the discussion, it was debated whether to choose a candidate with immense experience, Cory McIntyre, or to take a risk on Dr. Virgin, who has less experience but is more forward thinking. Some board members argued that a leader should not rely on others to fulfill their job, and therefore McIntyre was the clear choice. Others argued that it was not truly a risk to pick Dr. Virgin, as he has more potential to grow within his role and learn from more experienced coworkers in the district. It was emphasized that Dr. Virgin seemed to think more towards what the future looks like for Wayzata, even 5-10 years out, and he is willing to take risks within the guidelines to achieve above expectations. It was also noted that Dr. Virgin is a leader who tries to remember names, build relationships, and make an effort to truly connect with students, staff, and the community, which is a quality many people admire and appreciate about Dr. Anderson, our current superintendent. By the end of the discussion, the final vote for our new superintendent ended up as 5 board members in favor of Dr. Virgin and two against this choice. 

The Trojan Tribune would like to formally welcome Dr. Robb Virgin to Wayzata. We are excited to see what potential he holds for our school district in the coming years. Stay tuned for an interview with Dr. Virgin coming soon!