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.

2025 Leaders

ltlf hero2025
2025 EdWeek Leaders To Learn From
These district leaders have shown persistence and creativity as they navigate the challenges facing schools in a rapidly changing world.
Meet the 2025 Leaders

All Leaders

Filter by:
144 Results
Sort by:
144 Results for
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.
Baltimore Leader Helps District Cut Suspensions
Jonathan Brice rewrote the district's code of conduct to give principals alternatives to out-of-school suspensions.
Jonathan Brice
Veteran Educator Turns Around Cincinnati Schools
Under Superintendent Mary Ronan's oversight, 16 schools climbed out of "academic emergency."
Mary Ronan
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.
Dennis Stockdale
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.
Rural Leader Buoys School With Foreign Students
International-student programs work well in Australia, thought Superintendent Clark Hults, so why not in the Adirondacks?
Leaders To Learn From: Clark Hults
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.
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."
Linda S. Hicks
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
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.
Patricia Ciccone
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.
Leaders To Learn From: Austin Obasohan
Minn. Superintendent Pioneered ELL Reforms
An immigrant herself, Valeria Silva led by example a nationwide push to teach English-learners in mainstream classes.

Reprints, Photocopies and Licensing of Content

All content on Education Week's websites is protected by copyright. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the written permission of the copyright holder. Readers may make up to 5 print copies of this publication at no cost for personal, non-commercial use, provided that each includes a full citation of the source. For additional print copies, or for permission for other uses of the content, visit www.edweek.org/help/reprints-photocopies-and-licensing-of-content or email reprints@educationweek.org and include information on how you would like to use the content. Want to seamlessly share more EdWeek content with your colleagues? Contact us today at pages.edweek.org/ew-for-districts-learn-more.html to learn about how group online subscriptions can complement professional learning in your district or organization.

Copyright © 2025 by Editorial Projects in Education, Inc. All rights reserved.