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Minnesotan To Meet: MPS Superintendent Michael Goar

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- You could say that interim Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent Michael Goar was made for the role. He oversees roughly 100 schools within the district.

That's what makes him this week's Minnesotan to Meet.

Goar was 12 when he moved to the United States. He didn't speak English and he most certainly hadn't seen snow.

"As we were walking outside the snow and water mixture (was) coming down," said Goar, recalling his first memories from getting off the plane from Korea to Minnesota. "It was a very scary moment because I was coming into a strange setting and also a lot of kids."

It would be a tough transition for anyone, but it was at Anthony Middle School where he adapted to American culture.

"This was my middle school when I was growing up and (where I) learned how to speak English," said Goar while walking down the school's hallways.

Goar played drums in a band and worked his way through the public school system playing football, where he met a very influential coach.

"I really remember coach George Weimeier," said Goar. "He truly cared about us student athletes."

He went to college at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and then attended Mankato State University for his master's degree in education.

He said the adversity he overcame as a teen helped him better understand what it takes to give every kid in the classroom a fair shot.

"It gave me very different insight as a superintendent in terms of how we can better support our students who are most vulnerable," said Goar.

After joining Anthony Middle School students for breakfast, Goar said he hopes his experiences as a student will make him a better leader to those students who are looking to be inspired.

"I have an acute understanding of some of the challenges going through our school system," said Goar.

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