Dr. Heather Mueller, Senior Consultant for TeamWorks International, is a skilled leader, strategic-thinker, facilitator, coach, and education innovator who brings passion, experience, and expertise from the state and school district levels.

Dr. Mueller has most recently served as Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education, and prior to her appointment as Commissioner, she served as the Minnesota Department of Education’s Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Teaching and Learning, and Senior Director of Teaching and Learning.

As Commissioner of Education, Dr. Mueller:

• led the implementation, progress monitoring, and communications to internal and external education partners for Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan’s Due North Education Plan;
• developed and launched the Minnesota Department of Education’s Strategic Plan;
• developed and leveraged effective relationships with legislators, education partners, and education advocates to achieve the Governor’s policy and budget priorities;
• built and led MDE’s policy and budget proposals for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 legislative sessions;
• negotiated with high-ranking legislators in the E-12 education committees on a historic biennial budget in new spending and policy packages – including first-time funding for Indigenous Education for All and Ethnic Studies,
• built and implemented a Statewide System to Support Student Learning – Collaborative Minnesota Partnerships to Advance Student Success (COMPASS) to provide support to school leaders and educators in school structural supports through MnMTSS, data analysis and data literacy, a repository of best practices and school leader and educator supports in literacy, math, and social-emotional learning;
• created an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Center at MDE to support professional learning for public schools and MDE staff in anti-racist, anti-bias, and trauma informed educational practices and policies;
• directed the COVID-19 response for Minnesota’s education and child care sectors, overseeing a team of experts from the Minnesota Departments of Education; Health; Human Services; and the Children’s Cabinet; and
• partnered with Tribal Leaders to create education systems and structures to meet the needs of American Indian students and families and that recognize and support the importance of their sovereignty as eleven distinct Tribal Nations

Dr. Mueller moved to Minnesota to attend college in Mankato. Upon graduation, she started her career at Mankato Area Public Schools in August 1997, teaching social studies. During her time in Mankato, she continuously deepened her knowledge and skills while elevating her roles and responsibilities as a continuous improvement coach, professional development coordinator and the director of teaching and learning.

She earned her Doctor of Education in Leadership degree with an emphasis in organizational analysis and change from St. Mary’s University. She earned her specialist and K-12 administrative license, master’s degree in educational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dr. Mueller’s husband teaches middle school math, and they have two children.