Meet the Leaders Special Report

2013 EdWeek Leaders To Learn From

Recognizing excellence in school-district leadership
Student Achievement Leader To Learn From Texas District Goes Door to Door to Find Dropouts
The dropout rate decreased by 90 percent in Daniel P. King's first five years at the helm of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo schools.
7 min read
Special Education Leader To Learn From Special Ed. Director Blazes Paths in Virginia
This longtime special educator has been a pioneer in her state in improving services to students with autism spectrum disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
Nirvi Shah
3 min read
Judy Sorrell
Judy Sorrell
Matt Eich for Education Week
Classroom Technology Leader To Learn From Missouri Educator Pushes Power of Social Media
Kyle Pace has been training teachers to use technology since he was a student himself.
4 min read
Kyle Pace
Kyle Pace
Ryan Henriksen for Education Week
School & District Management Leader To Learn From In Ohio, Ex-Mechanic Keeps School Buses in Gear
More efficient bus routes and technological devices that allow administrators to keep track of buses and students are among Simmons' achievements.
3 min read
School Climate & Safety Leader To Learn From Baltimore Leader Helps District Cut Suspensions
Jonathan Brice rewrote the district's code of conduct to give principals alternatives to out-of-school suspensions.
Nirvi Shah
4 min read
Jonathan Brice
Jonathan Brice
Matt Roth for Education Week
School & District Management Leader To Learn From Veteran Educator Turns Around Cincinnati Schools
Under Superintendent Mary Ronan's oversight, 16 schools climbed out of "academic emergency."
7 min read
Mary Ronan
Mary Ronan
Rick Lohre for Education Week
IT Infrastructure & Management Leader To Learn From Rural Ind. School Leader Helps Wire a Community
Superintendent Stockdale has figured out a way for all 1,875 students in his rural district to have either an iPad or a computer, and he’s making wireless access available in students’ homes and after school hours in the community.
3 min read
Dennis Stockdale
Dennis Stockdale
Swikar Patel
Families & the Community Leader To Learn From Boston Leader Connects Parents to Learning
Once a disgruntled parent, Brooks now leads the district’s efforts to engage Boston parents in their children’s learning.
7 min read
School & District Management Leader To Learn From Rural Leader Buoys School With Foreign Students
International-student programs work well in Australia, thought Superintendent Clark Hults, so why not in the Adirondacks?
Diette Courrégé Casey
6 min read
School & District Management Leader To Learn From Colorado District, Union Team Up to Solve Budget Crunch
In Jefferson County, Colo., Superintendent Cynthia M. Stevenson and teachers' union President Kerrie Dallmann showed that it's not impossible for districts and unions to collaborate on tough decisions.
7 min read
Science Leader To Learn From Mich. School Chief Focuses on STEM Learning
By bolstering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instruction, Linda Hicks hopes to equip her students to find good jobs with the multinational food manufacturers and research facilities in and near "Cereal City."
Erik W. Robelen
5 min read
Linda S. Hicks
Linda S. Hicks
Brian Widdis for Education Week
School & District Management Leader To Learn From School Leader Manages Smart Growth in Va. Suburb
During Jeffrey K. Platenberg's tenure, his district built 13 new schools, renovated nine, and built five school additions—all while saving money.
Jeffrey K. Platenberg
Jeffrey K. Platenberg
Stephen Voss for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Leader To Learn From Conn. Administrator Focuses on School Climate
Ciccone brought new attention to school climate issues in her school system by piloting a survey that is now used statewide to take a pulse on how students feel about their schools.
Jaclyn Zubrzycki
5 min read
Patricia Ciccone
Patricia Ciccone
Christopher Capozziello for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness Leader To Learn From N.C. District Embraces College for All
Obasohan is leading efforts to create a districtwide “early college” system in Duplin County and instill college ambitions in students as early as kindergarten.
Caralee J. Adams
6 min read
English-Language Learners Leader To Learn From Minn. Superintendent Pioneered ELL Reforms
An immigrant herself, Valeria Silva led by example a nationwide push to teach English-learners in mainstream classes.
6 min read