The Minnesota State Academy (MSA) is one state agency comprised of two special schools:
Superintendent Welcome Letter
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- Superintendent
- Ph: 507-384-6601
- VP: 507-412-5109
- TTY: 507-384-6601
- Fax: 507-332-5528
I’d like to take a moment and introduce myself. My name is Brad Harper and I’m the new Superintendent of the State Academies here in Faribault. I am humbled to be a part of this proud institution! I am also energized by the engaged leaders on the Governing Board, the passionate community members, and the involved parents. It goes without saying that my interactions with students are the highlight of any day. The staff that I have come to know have impressed me with their willingness to go to extraordinary lengths to help students achieve. This commitment applies not only to the educational staff but also to the support staff like the food service, grounds, and dorm personnel…they are often the “glue” that holds the Academies together.
It is hard to believe that the Academies have been in existence since the time of the American Civil War. But it’s true; they have played a leadership role in education for deaf and blind students since the 1860’s. The Academies were the first schools in the state to provide a well rounded education to students with a significant vision or hearing loss.
Expectations on schools have changed dramatically since those early years but our commitment to provide a quality education has not. We are implementing current “best practices” in education: adopting the emerging core curriculum, embedding standards into our classes, fostering positive relationships, participating in mandated assessments, and providing competitions for students both athletic and academic.
I invite you to stop by my office and share your thoughts, concerns, and dreams for MSA.
Sincerely,
Brad Harper, Superintendent of the Minnesota State Academies
Mission Statement
“The Minnesota State Academies are dedicated to the intellectual, communicative, social, emotional, and physical development of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired and deaf/blind. Working collaboratively with students, families, schools and communities statewide, our mission is to provide exemplary, disability-specific learning opportunities, technology, and materials, enabling students to reach their fullest potential.”
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