2025 EdWeek Leaders To Learn From
Highlighting excellence in school district leadership
We are excited to introduce our 2025 class of EdWeek Leaders To Learn From. These district leaders have shown persistence and creativity as they navigate the challenges facing schools in an increasingly diverse, rapidly changing world.
We are bringing our readers deeply reported profiles of their work as well as bite-sized interviews in which the leaders explain how they approached widely shared challenges in their own voices.
- College & Workforce Readiness Leader To Learn From This Leader Said All Kids Will Do College-Level Work. What It Took to Get ThereJennifer Norrell led an effort to more than double the percentage of high schoolers taking AP in her district.
馃挕Why 69传媒 Support Classes Help High Schoolers Succeed
Classroom Technology Leader To Learn From This Tech Director Is Revolutionizing Special Education With GamingEvan Abramson led the creation of an esports arena for students with autism spectrum disorder. It may be the first in the country.
馃挕How a District's Embrace of Esports Is Transforming Special Education
- School Climate & Safety Leader To Learn From One Leader鈥檚 Plan to Cut Chronic Absenteeism鈥擮ne Student at a TimeNaomi Tolentino helps educators in Kansas City, Kan., support strong school attendance.
馃挕 What a 'Positive, Proactive Approach' to Chronic Absenteeism Looks Like
Recruitment & Retention Leader To Learn From How This HR Director Pushed for Pay Increases for TeachersTeachers are getting paid more in the Charleston, S.C. district鈥攖hanks in part to their champion in administration.
馃挕 A Formula for Better Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- Equity & Diversity Leader To Learn From Meet the DEI Leader Using Data鈥攁nd Heart鈥攖o Foster Student BelongingA school district's DEI director uses data and an approachable style to do his work despite a challenging political environment.
馃挕 Keeping DEI Work Alive in a Hostile Political Climate
Curriculum Leader To Learn From Computer Science for All: This District Leader Is Making It a RealityAn initiative to create and expand a computer science program pays big dividends in a Colorado district.
馃挕 Closing the Gender Gap in Computer Science Starts With Student Input
- Families & the Community Leader To Learn From From Haircuts to Home Language, One District鈥檚 Approach to Family EngagementMiranda Scully takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to parent engagement in her Kentucky district.
馃挕 Family Engagement Isn鈥檛 One-Size-Fits-All. Here鈥檚 How to Do It Right
College & Workforce Readiness Leader To Learn From This Leader Made the Tagline 'Discover Your Future' Real for 69传媒. Here's HowLazaro Lopez was the architect of an early national career-pathway model that is still reaping dividends for students.
馃挕 The Power of Career Pathways for Engaging High School 69传媒
