Superintendents

Walter Gonsoulin Jr., was named National Superintendent of the Year on March 6, 2025. Gonsoulin is the superintendent of the Jefferson County school district in Alabama.
Walter Gonsoulin Jr. was named National Superintendent of the Year on March 6, 2025, at the National Conference on Education in New Orleans. Gonsoulin is the superintendent of the Jefferson County school district in Alabama.
Courtesy of AASA, The School Superintendents Association
School & District Management 2025 Superintendent of the Year Honored for Building Career-Focused Academies
The newly named superintendent of the year focused on course offerings that could prepare students for local, high-wage jobs.
2 min read
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School & District Management Do Students Suffer When a Superintendent Leaves? A New Study Has an Answer
A new study is the first in a while to explore how students fare academically when there's turnover in the district's top office.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, February 7, 2025
5 min read
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School & District Management What Latino Superintendents Say It Will Take to Grow Their Ranks
Three Latino superintendents talked about the direct and indirect paths to building a pipeline of future district leaders of color.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, February 4, 2025
4 min read
Dr. Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, visits East Aurora students at the Music Recording Studio at Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, visits students at a recording studio at the district's new Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jamie Kelter Davis for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Leader To Learn From This Leader Said All Kids Will Do College-Level Work. What It Took to Get There
Jennifer Norrell led an effort to more than double the percentage of high schoolers taking AP in her district.
Sarah Schwartz, February 3, 2025
12 min read
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, stands for a portrait at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jamie Kelter Davis for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Q&A Why Reading Support Classes Help High Schoolers Succeed
Biology, literature, calculus, U.S. history—all high school courses, regardless of subject, require a strong literacy skills.
Sarah Schwartz, February 3, 2025
4 min read
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School & District Management School Leaders Rush to Manage Deportation Fears
School and district leaders describe a chaotic time amid changes to federal immigration policies.
Ileana Najarro & Olina Banerji, January 31, 2025
9 min read
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School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About The Superintendent Persona?
The superintendent plays a crucial role in purchasing decisions. Test your knowledge of this key buyer persona and see how your results stack up with your peers.
January 30, 2025
011425 SOY Finalists BS
The four finalists for the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year speak at a Jan. 9 panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington. From left to right: Debbie Jones, Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr., Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, and David K. Moore
Courtesy of AASA
School & District Management Superintendents Say Public Schools Can Compete With School Choice. Here's How
The four finalists for the National Superintendent said schools have to get creative to attract students.
Olina Banerji, January 14, 2025
4 min read
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School & District Management Superintendents’ New Year's Resolutions for 2025
District leaders want to grow professionally—and personally—this year.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, January 3, 2025
1 min read
Clockwise from upper left: Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent of the Peoria Public School District 150; Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of Jefferson County Schools; Debbie Jones, superintendent of the Bentonville School District; David Moore, superintendent of the School District of Indian River County.
Clockwise from upper left: Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent of the Peoria school district in Illinois; Walter Gonsoulin, superintendent of Jefferson County schools in Alabama; Debbie Jones, superintendent of the Bentonville, Ark., school district; and David Moore, superintendent in Indian River County, Fla. The four have been named finalists for national Superintendent of the Year. AASA will announce the winner in March 2025.
Courtesy of AASA, the School Superintendent's Association
School & District Management The 4 District Leaders Who Could Be the Next Superintendent of the Year
Four district leaders are finalists for the national honor. They've emphasized CTE, student safety, financial sustainability, and more.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, December 16, 2024
4 min read
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School & District Management Superintendents Wrapped: The Songs District Leaders Listened to This Year
Five brave superintendents shared their top songs and artists from the past year with Education Week.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, December 6, 2024
1 min read
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School & District Management Q&A What Surprised This Superintendent the Most in His First Year on the Job
Warren Morgan had an extensive resumé in education, but the experience couldn't fully prepare him to lead a district.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, November 13, 2024
8 min read
David Banks, chancellor of New York Public schools, answers a question during a House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools, May 8, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
David Banks, chancellor of New York City public schools, answers a question during a congressional hearing on antisemitism in K-12 public schools on May 8, 2024. Banks is expected to resign amid a federal corruption investigation.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
School & District Management NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks Plans to Resign Amid Federal Investigation
The hand-picked head of the nation’s largest school district is expected to resign amid a federal corruption investigation.
Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, September 24, 2024
1 min read
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School & District Management What Stresses Out Superintendents? It Depends on How Big Their District Is
The tasks taking up superintendents' time and their top sources of stress differ depending on the size of the districts they lead.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, September 24, 2024
3 min read