Former Eden Prairie schools leader Melissa Krull, who left the school district in September after implementing controversial boundary changes, has joined a superintendent training company as a part-time consultant.

The Board of School Superintendents, a Minneapolis company launched this year to offer professional development to superintendents nationwide, said Wednesday it had selected Krull to oversee a yearlong training program for 12 Minnesota superintendents starting in January.

Former Mahtomedi Superintendent Mark Wolak, one of the company's founders, called Krull a "strong leader" who has "achieved quite a bit in her education career." He declined to say what she was being paid.

In a statement, the company said it was looking for the "rock stars of superintendents, and there is no doubt that ... Melissa is just that in Minnesota."

Krull said Wednesday that she will soon have more to say about her future plans, but that in the meantime she's looking forward to the part-time role.

"I still have a real interest in leadership in public schools and being able to influence that in some way," she said.

Krull was the target of much of the public's unhappiness about the Eden Prairie boundary changes, largely done so low-income students weren't concentrated at one elementary school. Hundreds of parents signed petitions seeking her exit, and the school board paid her $100,000 to leave in September, nine months earlier than planned.

KELLY SMITH