Dr. Donald Langan, 72, former superintendent at School District 166, passed away at his home in Babbitt, Minnesota on September 13, 2016. Langan served as ISD 166 superintendent from 1992 to 1997.
Before coming to Cook County Schools, Langan taught high school, served as a high school principal and was director of instruction in the Kalispell, Montana school system. Prior to becoming the superintendent in Cook County he served as superintendent of the Aurora-Hoyt Lakes and Biwabik school districts concurrently.
While at ISD 166, Langan oversaw the $3.5 million campus expansion, which resulted in what is now the varsity gym and the Arrowhead Center for the Arts wing. Langan was also integral in establishing an Arts Magnet mentorship program, which partnered artists in the community with high school students. Serving on the school board when the Arts Center and expansion were completed were Ben Petz, chair; Richard Furlow, clerk; Jane Mianowski, treasurer; Kari Eliasen and Dr. Frithjof Wannebo.
He also faced a great deal of controversy, such as the July 10, 1995 resignation of two school board members upset at what they said was the superintendent’s lack of communication with the school board and a lawsuit filed by a terminated teacher alleging race discrimination, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and violation of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the Minnesota Open Meeting Law.
When Langan left Cook County, he became superintendent of the St. Louis County Schools and became a key figure in the 2007 book Plaintiff Blues: Job Discrimination and the Chilling Effect of Retaliation by former St. Louis County School District Principal Judith Pearson.
Plaintiff Blues is the story of Pearson’s quest to become principal and the rejection she faced because she is a woman. Pearson filed and won a gender discrimination lawsuit but went on to face retaliation. The book details the St. Louis County School Board’s 1997 rush to hire Langan over her and the difficulties she faced working with Langan.
While with the St. Louis County School District, Langan received the 2004 Administrator of Excellence Award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators for MASA Region 7.
Langan went on to be superintendent in International Falls, a position he left with little notice in 2009 returning to northeastern Minnesota and the Ely school district where he served from 2010 to 2011.
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