Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius wants to be the superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools.

Just not yet.

On Monday, the district will announce six semi-finalists for the job. A rumor has been going around education circles that Cassellius applied for the job.

She didn't, but said she would have if the timing was different.

"If it was later, like after the governor's term, yes." Cassellius said. "How can you not? I love my community."

Cassellius said she is "still serving the people of Minnesota" and needs to get all children access to universal pre-kindergarten, one of Governor Mark Dayton's top priorities.

"We will see what happens when I'm done with this," she said.

Cassellius was a teacher, principal and administrator in Minneapolis before following former Superintendent Carol Johnson to Memphis in 2004 to serve as academic superintendent of middle schools. In 2007, Cassellius worked in Oklahoma City for a short time before being returning to Minneapolis Public Schools under former superintendent Bernadeia Johnson. She then oversaw the East Metro Integration District for less than a year before Dayton appointed her as the state's education commissioner in 2010.

Cassellius' children attend Minneapolis Public Schools.

"I worked there. My kids go there. I live in the community and care deeply about what's going on," she said.

The district's superintendent search firm will present six semi-finalists to the Minneapolis school board Monday evening. Interim Superintendent Michael Goar, who worked with Cassellius in Minneapolis and Memphis, has said he wants the job permanently.