Simply the Best: Tricia Pettis Named Middle School Principal of the Year during Surprise Flash Mob

South View Middle School’s Principal Tricia Pettis has been named the Hennepin Division Middle School Principal of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP). The award recognizes her leadership and commitment to creating a strong sense of belonging.

Pettis learned of her win during a surprise flash mob while speaking at an all-school assembly she believed was for MCA testing. During her remarks, one of her favorite songs, Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best,” began to play, and colleagues and students started dancing in the bleachers.

She joined in, assuming it was a social media dance everyone else already knew. As her family and friends entered the gym, the moment became clear — the assembly had been a surprise celebration in her honor all along.

“It wasn't until my family and friends started to enter that I had any idea that something was up and this had to do with me,” shared Pettis. “I was truly shocked.”

Greg Martin, president of MASSP’s Hennepin Division, came to award Pettis. Afterward, she was greeted by former South View administrators, her best friend, and her family, including her father, sister, and brother, who are all educators.

Assistant Principal Tami Jo Cook spearheaded the nomination of Pettis, working with the South View leadership team and choir teacher Liz Skoglund to coordinate the dance.

“It was exciting and so much fun to make this honor such a special one for Tricia,” shared Cook. “She is so great at lifting up and recognizing others, which made it even more rewarding to see her delight in being on the receiving end of the celebration!”

Pettis became the principal of South View Middle School in 2023, after working at the school for over 20 years. Under her leadership, the middle school has expanded student opportunities through multi-age advisory programming and leadership groups. South View’s recent Panorama data shows 92% of students reported positive relationships at school.

“I share in this recognition with all of our South View and Edina community,” Pettis wrote. “I am the luckiest to serve with the absolute best teachers, students, families, and colleagues. I am so proud to lead a school that puts students at the center, works collaboratively with schools across the state, and is always striving for continuous improvement.”