College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Gary Prest

  • Director, Administrative Licensure and Leadership; Co-Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education Policy and Leadership; Co-Director, Urban Leadership Academy

Gary Prest

Areas of interest

Leadership training and development
Leadership research
Organizational change
Institutional culture
Strategic thinking
 

Degrees

Ed.D., University of Minnesota, educational administration 
Spec. Cert., University of Minnesota, educational administration
M.E., University of Minnesota, elementary education
B.S. with Distinction, University of Minnesota, elementary education

Biography

Profile

As a University of Minnesota alumni, I am grateful to serve this great institution and its students as the Director of Administrative Licensure and lead in leadership development for educational administrators. I teach and advise at the post-baccalaureate level; have extensive experience leading large school district organizations as principal, central office administrator, and superintendent; and have served as an educational consultant and business development coordinator in a private enterprise with clients throughout the state of Minnesota.

Courses taught

OLPD 5396—Field Experience in PK-12 Administration: Authentic Practice in Leadership

Awards and honors

Excellence in Educational Leadership,  University Council for Educational Administration (2020)

Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota (2014)

2006 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, Minnesota Association of School Administrators (2006)

25 Year Club Educator of the Year, Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association (2006)

Russel C. Hill Award for Character Education, Learning for Life (2001)

Professional affiliations

Phi Delta Kappan (1988-present)
American Association of School Administrators (1987-present)
Minnesota Association of School Administrators (1987-present)
MASA Executive Development Committee (2006-present)
Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (2014-present)