School & District Management

Here’s What District Leaders Are Most Thankful for This Thanksgiving

By Caitlynn Peetz — November 20, 2023 2 min read
Thanks, text and white-colored cubes.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

As students and teachers count down the days to a long weekend full of turkey, stuffing, and Thanksgiving gatherings, superintendents are taking time to reflect on what they’re most thankful for in their districts this year.

From staff members who bring out the best in students to students who are making academic strides, district leaders say they have plenty to be proud of this fall.

Several said they are thankful to have a supportive community that pushes them to improve and encourages their districts to be the best they can be. Others said their hardworking staff members have made the biggest impact.

Here’s what six superintendents said they are most grateful for this Thanksgiving. Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

PJ Caposey, Stillman Valley, Ill.

This year, I am in a transition year and ending my time in my current district which I have had the privilege of leading for 11 years. This built-in time to reminisce has given me immense gratitude and awareness that leadership is really all around us. I am of the belief that leadership is at the root of all of our struggles, but yet remains the solution at the same time. This year I am immensely thankful for the beautiful humans I am surrounded by who have dedicated their life to leadership in the pursuit of making other people’s lives better.

Matt Hillmann, Northfield, Minn.

I am grateful for the people I get to serve each day. I love our students—they are genuine, curious, and dream big. I am thankful for our staff—they are caring and incredibly skilled. Our community is a special place—they support our work and hold high expectations. It is a joy to do this vital work in this place with these fantastic human beings!

Heather Perry, Gorham, Maine

I am most thankful for our incredible, supportive community, without which our schools would not be successful. I am grateful each day to be able to serve the community of Gorham, Maine, as its superintendent of schools. Go Rams!

David Law, Minnetonka, Minn.

I am thankful each time I see a student shine as they proudly show their skills and knowledge, thankful for the staff that helped them get there, thankful for the community that continues to invest in and believe in our public schools, and thankful for opportunity to be a part of a better future.

LaTonya Goffney, Aldine, Texas

During this time of the year, when there are so many reasons to be thankful here in Aldine, the one that stands out the most is our people. Our students, employees, and community of Aldine are the reasons why we are able to continue moving forward in living our vision of providing choices and opportunities for our students and families. I am forever thankful for their voices, their time, and the dedication that allows us to accomplish our work.

Rod Weber, Woonsocket, S.D.

I am so thankful for my hardworking and passionate staff. Their devotion and commitment continues to create positive changes to our school every day. They are appreciated more than they will ever know. Happy Thanksgiving from the Woonsocket school district.

Related Tags:

Events

Teaching Profession K-12 Essentials Forum New Insights Into the Teaching Profession
Join this free virtual event to get exclusive insights from Education Week's State of Teaching project.
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Mathematics K-12 Essentials Forum Helping Students Succeed in Math

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Opinion For Principals, Emotional Intelligence Is More Than Just Being ‘Nice’
Emotions are contagious. When leaders struggle, the school environment does, too.
Marc Brackett, James Floman & Robin Stern
5 min read
Juggling emotions control concept, businessman juggling emotions icons and mood control, mindfulness and psychology, techniques and techniques for managing anger
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How Can Principals Grow the Next Generation of Teachers? Listen to My Student
Here’s what made this high schooler want to become a public school teacher.
S. Kambar Khoshaba & Mina Etemadi
4 min read
Conceptual image of growing the next generation of teachers from students.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management How Los Angeles Schools Are Responding to the ICE Raids and Protests
The school year in Los Angeles is ending amid immigration raids, protests, and the activation of National Guard troops and Marines.
4 min read
Los Angeles police officers with batons and riot gear attempt to move back protesters in downtown Los Angeles on June 9, 2025.
Los Angeles police officers with batons and riot gear attempt to move back protesters in downtown Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the district's police force planned to set up "perimeters of safety" around graduation ceremonies this week amid immigration raids in the city, protests, and the activation of National Guard troops and Marines.
Eric Thayer/AP
School & District Management Download How to Boost Teacher Morale: A Guide for District Leaders (DOWNLOADABLE)
Our discussion guide for district leaders has three takeaways about teachers' attitudes toward their job. Use it to jump start PD with your team.
1 min read
A leader meets with their team. Superintendents, principals, schools leaders, district maps.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva