This is Mike DiNardo’s fifth and final year of being the Minnehaha Academy’s Upper School principal and his 20th year of being in the Upper School administration. He has also taught science and coached softball, football, basketball and Nordic skiing. In November 2024, DiNardo told President Donna Harris that he wanted to rejoin the teaching staff full-time, and in January, he shared the news with faculty and staff.
“I’m getting to the point where I’m really missing being back in the classroom full time,” DiNardo said.
Mike DiNardo. Photo by Anavie Bernick.
DiNardo has had experience with teaching and has taught at an all-boys Catholic school in New Jersey, as well as at a large public school and a small private school in California. At Minnehaha, he has also taught a lot of science, especially chemistry.
“I’ve been able to teach classes now and then while serving as an administrator, like I’m teaching the intro to engineering class this year, and for a couple of years I taught an honors chemistry section,” he said.
DiNardo is a big fan of the school. When he first started in office as the principal, he just wanted the school to come together and for the school to have a great community that teachers and students would stick to. He has a lot of knowledge of how schools and high schools work from many perspectives – as an administrator, teacher, coach, and parent.
I met with DiNardo in May for the following conversation.
What made you want to rejoin the teaching staff full-time?
I’ve been principal for five years, and prior to that, I was assistant principal or dean for 15 years, so it’s been 20 years in administration. I’m just excited to get back into teaching full time.
What classes will you be teaching?
It looks like I’ll be teaching chemistry, and possibly some physics. I may also be teaching the intro to engineering class again.
What are some characteristics that you had that made the school choose you to be their principal?
I think at the time, I had been at the school for – now it’s been 30 years basically – and I had a lot of institutional knowledge. I think I am a big proponent of the school. Being the principal is an important job, and I was interested in doing the work. It’s an important job, and I wanted to make sure that the school was in a good place by hiring high-quality teachers and admitting students who are good fits for our school.
How would you describe your personal list of pros and cons of being in the administration?
Pros: It is important work. I feel like having an impact on things that deal with the overall school is important – how the school is functioning, helping to bring in teachers who are going to be a good fit, helping to shape the culture of the school and students so we appreciate all of what it is to be a Minnehaha student. Also, my time is a little more flexible as a principal.
Cons: I am going to enjoy getting back into teaching, but one of the cons is, you’re tied so much to the clock. I guess other cons of being in administration would be that it is also very stressful to try to deal with some problems at Minnehaha and having to be that person who gives the bad news, so I won’t miss that for sure.
Could you describe the responsibilities of a high school principal?
There are a lot of responsibilities that would take too many pages to list. I’ll say, as principals, you are here to support the overall work of the teachers, and there are many ways that you support them. You support them by making sure they have what they need in their class, so that the budget will match what they need in order to teach effectively, to support them, help them with any problems they are having with curriculum or with student behavior, or just with motivation. Also, making sure that they are happy in their work, keeping them on the teaching staff, so that they will enjoy the work and be positive influences on our students. And also, being in tune with many different things all around the school.
What is the process of finding the new principal?
We hired a search firm and used the firm to look for candidates for the job. Some members of that search firm came in and interviewed faculty, staff and students to learn more about the school. The firm will work in finding the best fit for Minnehaha. At this time, they are likely finding the appropriate candidates that they will bring forth to share with Dr. Harris, and then Dr. Harris and a team of teachers and administrators will interview those final candidates.