Principal's Corner

Welcome to North Park School for Innovation!

I am honored and excited to serve as the principal of North Park School for Innovation beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. North Park immediately stood out to me as a special place because of its commitment to STEM education, creativity, sustainability, and—most importantly—a strong sense of community and belonging.

I began my career as a Community Educator in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific, an experience that shaped how I think about relationships, community, and the power of education. Since then, I have had the opportunity to serve students, families, and educators in a variety of roles with St. Paul Public Schools, including teacher, Instructional Coach, Literacy Coach and Administrator.

Throughout my career, I have believed that relationships come first. Students learn best when they feel known, valued, and supported, and adults do their best work when they feel trusted, respected, and connected. As principal, I want to create a school culture where people feel a genuine sense of belonging and where we work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.

I am also deeply drawn to North Park's commitment to STEM and environmental stewardship. I believe learning should be engaging, relevant, and driven by curiosity. Students should have opportunities to ask questions, solve authentic problems, collaborate with others, and connect what they are learning to the world around them.

As I begin this new chapter, one of my priorities is to listen and learn. North Park has a strong history, dedicated staff, engaged families, and a community that cares deeply about its students. I want to learn from the people who know North Park best while working alongside them to build on the great things already happening here.

I am grateful for the warm welcome I have already received from the North Park community and the Columbia Heights Public Schools family. I look forward to getting to know our students, families, and staff, learning alongside them, and helping make North Park a place where every student and every adult feels seen, valued, supported, and able to thrive.

I am excited for what we will build together!

~Brett Asleson
Principal, North Park School for Innovation

Welcome to the North Park School for Innovation! Our school is part of Columbia Heights Public Schools, serving approximately 400 students and their families. As you explore the information on our website, you will be presented with evidence of what our community finds important to the development of our young students. We focus on the whole student at North Park School for Innovation through the academic and arts programming focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). 

One of our signature programming features is STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). One of the valuable products of STEAM is the ability for each student to individualize their own learning. Within this program, we give specific attention to the principles of design and creativity. Our students have the opportunity to apply the skills they are learning to develop solutions to engaging challenges regularly, thus creating a highly engaging experience.

Another important factor in making North Park School for Innovation great is actively engaged families. Our PTO supports several family activities throughout the year, including the Color Run, Fine Arts Night and the North Park Family BBQ. Check out the PTO tab to see what this group has in store for the year.

In addition to our PTO, we have a committed group of family volunteers. Each day, North Park School for Innovation has volunteers supporting our students and staff. Our families bring a great sense of pride when their children see them at school.