About MDE

Paula Palmer

As Director of Career and College Success, Paula Palmer leads the postsecondary internal operations section of the department, which administers Adult Basic Education, Career Technical Education, Online Learning, and High School Initiatives. She directs the research, development, implementation and evaluation of state secondary and postsecondary strategic initiatives to help Minnesota secondary schools improve the educational achievement of students and ensure their readiness for, and success in college and/or career.

Prior to her appointment, Paula was the Minneapolis Public Schools Coordinator of Advanced Course Programming. She also worked as a consultant educator for the International Baccalaureate of Americas. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Paula has worked at the elementary, secondary and district levels in the area of curriculum and instruction. Paula also worked as a district magnet schools coordinator, and a literacy coordinator. She is a former Board Member of Northwest Suburban Integration School District and has served on the Rockford Schools Facilities Planning and Referendum Task Forces. In her previous leadership roles at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Paula served on various Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) review committees.

She received her B.A. in education at the University of Minnesota-Morris, her master’s degree from St. Thomas University, and completed administrative coursework from St. Mary’s University.