Pilot Knob Principal Tom Benson Retires
Benson will leave Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School at the end of the current school year after 20 years as principal.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Secondary Education
Tom Benson, principal of Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School in Eagan, announced his retirement, effective at the end of the current school year. ISD 197 will conduct a principal search with the goal of hiring a new principal by the end of the school year.
Why it matters
Benson has led the school for two decades, and the district's search will determine who guides the STEM magnet school next. The transition comes as ISD 197 works to maintain continuity for Pilot Knob families.
Benson has served as principal since 2007, giving him a tenure of 20 years at the school. His career in education spans nearly 40 years, and the district has not yet named a replacement.
The players
Tom Benson
Tom Benson is a longtime educator who has spent nearly 40 years in education, including two decades leading Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School. He has also competed in triathlons and is preparing for his 13th Ironman.
ISD 197
ISD 197 is the public school district that serves Eagan and oversees Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School, and it is conducting the search for a new principal.
The details
Benson taught in south central Los Angeles and later served one year as principal in Solana Beach, California, before coming to Pilot Knob in 2007. ISD 197 announced the retirement to Pilot Knob families and will follow its standard principal search process.
Timeline
2007: Benson became principal of Pilot Knob STEM Magnet School.
End of the current school year: Benson's retirement takes effect.
Before the end of the school year: ISD 197 aims to hire a new principal.
Roadmap
Benson's departure follows the standard principal search process ISD 197 applies to leadership transitions across its schools. The search will test whether the district can fill a long-tenured STEM magnet principalship within a single school year.
Families at Pilot Knob will see a new principal arrive once the school year ends and the district completes its search. Benson will continue to be active in the community, announcing Two Rivers football games and filling in at schools.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at a school with a 20-year principal can shape continuity for students, so families should watch for the district's announcement of Benson's successor.
What happens next
ISD 197 aims to hire a new principal by the end of the school year, and Benson will finish out the school year at Pilot Knob before retiring.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education in Eagan and how local schools are preparing for leadership transitions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West St. Paul Reader.
