The District 196 School Board appointed Eagan residents Robin Cerio and Catherine Diamond to fill the expiring terms of Art Coulson and Sachin Isaacs, who resigned earlier this year. The two appointees will serve until an election is held in November 2025.
Twenty-four district residents applied for the vacant board seat during a two-week application period in November. At a Special Meeting of the Board on December 9, the Board narrowed the pool to six applicants. Cerio and Diamond were among six applicants invited to interview during the Special Meeting on December 16. The other applicants who participated in the interview were Amy Feeder from Rosemount, Pha Chia Moua from Eagan, Matthew Sieren from Rosemount, and Andrea Sutherland from Rosemount.
Board members collectively thanked the strong applicant pool. "I would be honored to serve with any one of the applicants we interviewed," said Chair Cory Johnson. "We are fortunate to have strong interest and community support in District 196."
Robin Cerio has lived in the district for 22 years and has prior non-profit board experience, having served on boards for the Minnesota Children's Museum and Dakota County Library. She is an active volunteer in District 196, a past chair of the Community Education Advisory Council, and a former member of the Curriculum Advisory Council and Eastview High School and Black Hawk Middle School Site Councils.
Catherine Diamond, DrPH, a mother of three, holds a doctorate in public health and works in injury and violence prevention for the Minnesota Department of Health. As a former research scientist, she brings a strong background in data-informed decision-making and strategic planning.