New principal, assistant principals joining BPS

Mark Paulsen will become the new Jefferson High School principal effective July 1, following the departure of Dr. Jaysen Anderson, who is leaving to become the principal of Eden Prairie High School.

Paulsen most recently served as assistant principal at Prior Lake High School. He began his career as a classroom teacher and department curriculum chair in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District. Paulsen earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and University of Minnesota respectively. He holds an educational specialist degree from St. Mary’s University.

Two new assistant principals will also begin July 1, including Josh Wenzel at Kennedy High School, and Casey Van De Laarschot at Valley View Middle School.

Wenzel is a former administrative dean at Eden Prairie High School, where he also previously served as an instructional coach for two years. Wenzel taught social studies and served as a summer school coordinator.

Van De Laarschot most recently served as an assistant principal at Prodeo Academy in Columbia Heights. He also taught in North St. Paul before moving to California where he was a high school social studies teacher and instructional coach.