Brian Nutter, North Junior High School principal and 2023 MASP (MN Association of Secretaries to the Principals) Administrator of the Year, knew he wanted to do something exciting for a career. At 18, he narrowed his choices down to two: a United States Marshal or a kindergarten teacher.
He attended the University of St. Thomas where he started his path with criminal justice classes but quickly found them too boring.
“[Instead], I focused on that sociology track and getting generals done during the first year at St. Thomas,” explains Nutter. “I was in love with my wife. We were high school sweethearts, and she said she wanted to attend St. Cloud State (SCSU). She thought it would be the best place for us. And I said, ‘OK!'”
The couple moved to St. Cloud and Nutter took stock in the programming to see what was appealing. Technology education stood out to him. He loved his tech ed courses (woodworking, welding and computer-aided drafting) in high school. He decided to pursue an education path instead of law enforcement.
Upon graduation from SCSU, Nutter was offered a job at Minnetonka Middle School East. He taught technology education to seventh graders for a year before accepting a position at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, his alma mater.
“It was my dream job at the time – teaching in the shop that I spent a lot of time in in high school,” shares Nutter. “That first year in Minnetonka, I wrote school curriculum for a high school construction program that I started teaching the next year at Roosevelt.”
Nutter taught the classes he loved, including driver’s education, for 13 years. What inspired him to advance his career into administration was his experience being on the board of the Roosevelt High School Foundation. The foundation helps raise funds for student scholarships, teacher grants and more. He still sits on the board to this day.
“As long as I’ve been in education, so since 2002, I’ve told people high school was such an important experience in my life,” says Nutter. “Education is much more than just the education. It’s about the experience and all that happens during that time in our lives. I try to remind people … [education] is not just in the class … but how we interact with people. Relationships that we build in the school can continue on for the rest of your life.”
Nutter completed his graduate degrees at St. Mary’s University and became an assistant principal and program facilitator in Minneapolis Public Schools prior to accepting the position of principal at North Junior High in St. Cloud.
He still loves tech ed classes. He pops in on the year-long construction class every now and then at North.
“If Ms. Laudenbach is out and we can’t get a sub, I’m the first person to volunteer to cover that class,” laughs Nutter. “I covered a build for her last year when she was at a robotics competition just to keep the kids going on the project.”
Wanda Sis, the lead clerical at North Junior High nominated Nutter for his recent award.
She says, “One of the key components [to Nutter] is effective communication … and his ability to lead by example. He is humble, kind and hardworking. He’s handy to have around, to be our ‘Mr. Fix-It.’ He advocates for students, families and staff … and seeks input and listens before making decisions.”
Whether Nutter is leading his school staff, teaching in the classroom or connecting with students, he experiences excitement every day–even if it isn’t in a kindergarten classroom!
Fun Facts:
- In addition to his education career, Nutter is also in the Minnesota Army National Guard.
- Nutter has four children and loves to spend time with them.
- He also loves to be handy and fix things – remodels, repairs and even makes furniture.
- Nutter loves his dogs.
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