District Leadership
Learn more about the work of district-level leaders including superintendents, chief academic officers, and other administrators
2023 Leaders To Learn From
We're excited to reveal our 2023 honorees. These district leaders have shown persistence and creativity as they navigate the challenges facing schools in a rapidly changing world.
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School & District Management
Opinion
How to Build a More Effective School Board
Board members are well-intentioned, but they've been mis-trained into focusing on adult inputs rather than student needs.
School & District Management
Q&A
How Succession Planning Can Help Close the Gender Gap for Superintendents
Whitney Oakley of the Guilford County, N.C. district discusses how formal and informal leadership opportunities opened doors to the top job.
Recruitment & Retention
Building the Superintendent Pipeline: Advice From 3 District Leaders
Creating a deep pool of talent pays dividends, superintendents say.
School & District Management
Employee Morale Is Keeping Superintendents Up at Night
But district leaders themselves feel more optimistic, possibly a rebound from the height of the pandemic.
School Climate & Safety
A Superintendent Left His Gun in a School Restroom. A Student Found It
A Texas superintendent has resigned after a student found his gun unattended. The incident follows debates over arming teachers.
Families & the Community
What the Push for Parents’ Rights Means for Schools
Conservative parents and politicians are pushing for parents' bills of rights, but what they actually mean for schools is untested.
School & District Management
Q&A
How a Successful Superintendent Takes Stock Mid-Year
The halfway point in the school year is a good time to reassess goals, measure progress, and reflect.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
What I Learned About America's Enslavement of People Shaped My District's DEI Efforts
Before he could make his school more welcoming, a superintendent explains how he had to challenge his own perceptions first.
School & District Management
Newly Named Superintendent of the Year Focuses on Seeing Students as Individuals
Kevin McGowan leads the Brighton Central School District in Rochester, N.Y.
School & District Management
Difficult Times Call for a New Approach to District Leadership, Author Says
Superintendents must adopt a leadership posture of trusting and inspiring educators to lead through a moment of rapid change, author says.
Privacy & Security
It Takes an Entire District to Prevent a Cyberattack: 5 Tips
One of the biggest challenges in making cybersecurity policies work is getting everyone engaged.
Classroom Technology
Q&A
Why Superintendents Must See Themselves as Ed-Tech Leaders
David Schuler, AASA's incoming executive director, is taking on the helm of the organization at a critical moment for education technology.
Equity & Diversity
Photos
The Making of a Leaders To Learn From Cover
An inside look at the 2023 cover for EdWeek's annual Leaders To Learn From special issue.
Equity & Diversity
Q&A
A Formula for Creating More Equitable Gifted and Talented Programs
Anthony Vargas in Manassas, Va., has nearly doubled the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the district's gifted program.