Meet the Leaders

Each year, Education Week identifies some of the nation’s most exceptional school district leaders in its EdWeek Leaders To Learn From report and shines a spotlight on their extraordinary impact on the success of educators and students.

2026 Leaders

LTLF hero image 1720x1150
2026 EdWeek Leaders To Learn From
Introducing our 2026 EdWeek Leaders To Learn From, highlighting innovative district leaders.
Meet the 2026 Leaders

All Leaders

Filter by:
151 Results
Sort by:
151 Results for
How Putting Students’ Welfare First Can Transform a District
For Lateshia Woodley, a relentless focus on supporting students facing trauma comes from her own lived experience.
Lateshia Woodley, the superintendent of student support for the Kansas City public schools, speaks with Jareon Brown, 17, and other students in Southeast High School's restorative-justice class.
As Students, They Felt Disconnected. As Leaders, They Champion Equity
The superintendent and chief academic officer in Hartford, Conn., are creating a system that centers the needs of students and families.
Madeline Negrón, the chief academic officer for the Hartford public schools, (left), and Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, the superintendent, in the Student Success Center at Hartford Public High School on Dec. 20, 2021.
Nurturing Talent at Home to Revive a Struggling Region
In rural Edgecombe County, N.C., Valerie Bridges is revitalizing the region with micro-schools and a homegrown teacher-development program.
Valerie Bridges, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Schools in Tarboro, N.C.
In Navajo Nation, a Star Superintendent Draws on His Ties to the Community
Quincy Natay grew up in Chinle, Ariz. Now he's increasing student access to laptops and Wi-Fi to maintain growth in learning through the pandemic.
Quincy Natay, superintendent of the Chinle Unified School District in Arizona.
A Wrestling Coach Pins Down the Education Technology of the Future
A Kansas leader keeps his district abreast of evolutions in broadband and technology—and finds parallels in his role as a wrestling coach.
Doug Vander Linden, Director of Educational Technology, Burlington Unified School District, Kan.
How This District Leader Transformed Teacher PD
In Bakersfield, Calif., Jason Hodgson revamped teacher PD with a suite of customized, online courses taught mainly by district teachers.
Jason Hodgson, director of professional development at the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District in Bakersfield, Calif., has revolutionized the district's teacher-professional development program.
Relying on Community Values: How One School Leader Advocates for Vulnerable Families
Carissa Purnell’s work at the Family Resource Centers in Salinas, Calif., is a lifeline for families, many of them migrant farm workers.
Carissa Purnell, director of the Family Resource Centers for the Alisal Union School District in Salinas, Calif.
Driving Academic Improvement by Empowering Parents
Central to turning around public education in Detroit is reengaging the parents who had been largely cut out of the district.
Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools, and Sharlonda Buckman, assistant superintendent of family and community engagement, have made parental engagement a key part of their turnaround strategy.
Building a Community for Black Male Teachers
Baron R. Davis is leading efforts to hire more Black male teachers committed to improving academic excellence in a South Carolina district.
Baron Davis, Superintendent of Richland School District Two, in Columbia, S.C.
Ensuring Homeless Students Are Seen During a Pandemic
In Everett, Wash., Amy Perusse brought together a range of agencies to meet the needs of homeless students and their families.
Amy Perusse, homeless education coordinator for Everett School District in Washington, has kept track of and coordinated services for her students across county lines during the pandemic.
Taking an Unapologetic Approach to Curriculum Overhaul
An academic leader at a charter school has overhauled curriculum—and proved that instructional rigor and anti-racism can co-exist.
Danielle Kelsick, Chief Academic Officer for the Environmental Charter Schools in Redondo Beach, Calif.
A Place Where Teachers Take the Lead on Science Curriculum
Anna Heyer has empowered teachers to shape the science curriculum in an Arizona district, and has expanded time spent on science.
Anna Heyer, District Science Specialist for the Flowing Wells Unified School District in Tucson, Ariz.