By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer

New Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver is a self-described “techie.”

Which is lucky for her family, as her technical inclination keeps them networked across the country and the globe.

Gruver and her husband, Jim, have four children, two of whom live with their families in Australia.

Another one of her children lives in Dallas, Texas, and another is closer by, in the Minnetonka area.

Her mom lives in Florida, and Gruver and her husband both were raised in Indiana. That could rack up a lot of frequent flyer miles.

“I always say, ‘Well, it’s their story.’ They get to live where they want,” she said.

No matter how close, or how far, Gruver said new technology like Skype (a program that allows for free international phone and video conference calling from computer to computer) allows her to keep up with everyone.Gruver and one of her grandchildren, Jimmy, enjoy
a family picnic at the beach
in Australia. (Submitted photo)

With four children, and soon to be 12 grandchildren, Gruver said family is a top priority.

When her grandchildren wake up in the morning across an ocean, they check in with Grandma and Grandpa first thing via video.

“They’ll hold up whatever they’re eating – a doughnut or porridge. They’re very interested in talking to us when they get up,” she said, smiling. “We play patty-cake. It’s such a gift to live right now. International calling is pennies. It’s awesome. I’m up to the minute – up to right now.”

She’s also linked the clan using a digital photo frame in each household. Her children and grandchildren can post photos to a Web site at www.ceiva.com [1] and get updates from their aunts, uncles and cousins that appear in the picture frame nearly instantaneously.

“In the morning, the kids get up and see their cousins,” Gruver said. “We’ve got lots of ways to stay connected.”

When she and her husband moved to Minnesota 36 years ago, they never anticipated having some of their grandchildren raised abroad.

Sometimes, her grandchildren “correct” her pronunciation since they talk in Australian accents.

“I think that’s unusual,” Gruver said. “It’s a softer cadence. That’s something you don’t ever think is going to happen in your life, that your children’s children will grow up in a different culture.”

Gruver said she’d love to “record their little voices” to play back for friends. “They just charm everyone. It makes you smile.”

She and Jim take longer, two-week vacations to Australia to visit, and they also spend time prepping for their family in the states to return home to Minnesota.

“Right now, we’re getting ready for the Texas family to come up next week,” she said.

Aside from trips and hosting guests, as “empty nesters” she said they take shorter getaway vacations to Lutsen or small driving trips.

She also looks forward to just staying home and reading, taking walks or having casual dinners with friends.

“I’m always reading something professionally and just for fun,” she said.

On the job

Since joining Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools last month, Gruver said she’s worked long hours but is excited about the new role.

“It’s a good tired,” she said.

The couple plans to relocate to Prior Lake when their Lake Elmo home sells, but until then, she’ll make the commute.

“We’ve only had two showings in three months, but it only takes one,” she said.

Her husband is a realtor with Coldwell Banker-Burnett, so she said his transition to a new part of the Twin Cities will be seamless.

“Each move has been a real positive one,” Gruver said of her career climb through the education system. “I decided late last fall that this was the time.”

Once Gruver chose to go after a superintendent position, she said her excitement increased as she visited districts.

“This was the place where I left my heart. I had such a sense of community and family here,” she said of her Prior Lake-Savage school visit. “I knew the focus here was going to be on the kids.”

In the past month, she’s used time to get to know staff members and to hire a new director of curriculum, instruction and assessment and director of human resources.

“I’m just getting to know the people and what’s important to them,” she said.

On her fourth day of work, she also got to see the emergency plan go into action when a field trip group encountered bad weather on a river tubing field trip.

“It was one of those all-hands-on-deck situations,” she said. “I was very concerned for student safety.”

Gruver said the emergency procedure process went smoothly; staff verified student safety, parents were notified, and the students returned home with a story to tell.

“It was a wonderful day. The kids were all safe. They had an adventure they’ll never forget,” she said.

For the parents, she said you could see relief on their faces when the children returned.

Gruver said she’s excited for a new beginning for herself and for the district.

“I have been absolutely energized by the people,” she said.

She said she’s not looking to put her own “stamp” on the district as a whole, but rather to facilitate listening to others and working together.

Her focus will be on excellence, she said, and she will look to provide ways to measure improvements in the schools and to raise the bar.

  Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.