Dr. Charles Rick Announces Retirement as Perpich Center for Arts Education Executive Director

Dr. Charles Rick, Perpich Center for Arts Education Executive Director

September 17, 2024

Dr. Charles Rick, Perpich Center for Arts Education Executive Director, is retiring from Perpich with over five years of service. His last day will be Friday, November 22nd. Charles started at Perpich in August of 2019.

When asked to reflect on his time at Perpich, Charles offered, “Perpich is a special community and I am glad to have been part of it the past few years. I truly want to thank the Board of Directors and the Perpich staff, faculty, and students for their support. My takeaway from my experiences at Perpich Center for Arts Education is the vast amount of talent and dedication for arts education in Minnesota. It has been my honor, as Executive Director, to advocate for arts education.”

Dr. Charles Rick poses with members of the Minnesota Senate on the Perpich campus – October 3, 2023

Rebecca Bullen, Perpich Arts High School Principal, said, “I have greatly enjoyed working with Charles over the past 5 years. His dedication to the success of Perpich and our community is admirable. He has stepped in in times of need and shown true leadership and commitment. He is a listener who holds integrity, empathy, and inclusivity at the center of his decisions. Charles has been a valued and respected mentor and I have learned a lot from him. I wish him the best in his well deserved retirement.”

Dr. Wendy Barden, Perpich’s Director of Professional Development and Resources, said, “I so appreciate the leadership Charles has provided the agency, and Professional Development and Resource Programs (PDR) in particular, over these five years. In so many ways, PDR has been able to move forward in our service to arts educators and arts education statewide because of his support, collaborative thinking, and encouragement.”

Pasha Khosravi, Board Chair, said, “Working with Dr. Charles Rick has been an absolute pleasure. Perpich is incredibly fortunate to have had such a dedicated and committed leader. His guidance was invaluable during the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. Dr. Rick has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and wisdom through the many challenges that would come, always rising to the occasion and elevating the agency. I wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Dr. Charles Rick, left, at the 2024 Perpich Arts High School Graduation ceremony with members of the Perpich Board: Dr. Ronald Salazar, Dr. Paul Hustoles, Sally Grans Korsh, and Rebekah Doyle

Sally Grans-Korsh, Board Vice Chair, said, “Dr. Rick collaborated with the PCAE staff and Board to consistently bring forth new innovations and keep Perpich vital for the entire state. His style was quiet and extremely effective, and he encouraged all voices to be heard. He will be missed.”

Dr. Rick holds an Ed.D in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He also has Sixth Year Certificate/M.S. degrees in Educational Administration and a B.S. degree in Secondary Education (Social Studies) from Minnesota State University-Mankato. He has 30+ years of experience as a superintendent, principal, and teacher. Dr. Rick has also served as an adjunct assistant professor for the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

From June 2016 to June 2019, Dr. Rick served as Director of Graduate Studies for the Educational Specialist Degree (Ed. S.) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. In that position, he directed the licensure degree program for principals and superintendents with a focus on acquiring a principal and/or superintendent license in Minnesota. In 2018, he served as a member of the AdvanceEd team in assessment of Minnesota school district programs.

Since retiring from St. Louis County Schools as superintendent, he has worked with the US Department of Defense program Troops to Teachers, working with veterans who want to become classroom teachers. Dr. Rick has also served three school districts as interim superintendent.

He was named the 2011 Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) Region VII Administrator of Excellence. He served on the Board of Directors for the National Principal’s Leadership Institute from 2011 to 2013.

We thank Charles for his dedication and years of service and wish him the best of luck in this next adventure!