Greenhagen steps in to lead Community Education

BHM Schools entered the school year with a new but familiar hand at the helm of Community Education.

Jen Greenhagen has been serving as the director of Community Education since mid-July, when former director Eric Erlandson took a new position with Eden Prairie Schools. 

While there were a number of quality candidates for the position, Superintendent Scott Thielman and Human Resources Director Evan Ronken said that Greenhagen became the clear first choice through three rounds of interviews and evaluations. Her growth mindset, collaborative and relational leadership style, and commitment to Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Schools were standout qualities appreciated by the hiring committee.

Greenhagen has already distinguished herself through positive, thoughtful and highly effective work as an education support professional, teacher and coordinator with BHM Schools over the past 13 years. 

She began as an Early Childhood Special Education education support professional from 2013-16, then became an early childhood special education teacher in Rockford in 2016-17. 

She returned to BHM Schools as an ECSE teacher from 2017-23 before taking her most recent role as Early Childhood and Third Party Billing Coordinator in 2023.    

Along the way, Greenhagen obtained her Master of Education degree in 2016 and her K-12 Administrative Licensure Certificate-Director of Special Education Licensure in 2026, both from the University of Minnesota. She earned her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1998. 

During the July school board meeting, Chair Bob Sansevere told board members that Greenhagen’s interview was one of the most impressive he has taken part in, and Dr. Thielman said the hiring committee reached a firm consensus. 

“It was very evident, as we went through the process, that Jennifer is the right leader for BHM Schools,” Thielman said.