Disrupting Student Inequities Systemically
June 01, 2025
At the Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union in Vermont, we face a significant socioeconomic gap that has disproportionately impacted Richford Elementary School, where 98 percent of students live in poverty. Our rural community, situated along the Canadian border, has experienced decades of severe economic decline following the loss of its railroad industry and manufacturing base, leading to increased poverty, crime and social challenges that directly impact our students鈥� educational experience.
The gap became starkly more apparent when students returned to in-person learning after the pandemic.
We observed severe behavioral issues, including property destruction, physical aggression and regular and consistent classroom disruptions. The planning room was consistently full of students who needed to de-escalate, take a break or do a check-in with a staff member. Consequently, student learning was compromised.
Adding to these challenges was an unsustainable teacher turnover rate, with high percentages of educators resigning annually, creating instability in our educational environment.
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This essay is part of a series called "Winning Ideas from Winning Superintendents." To view the other essays in the series, visit the June publication page.
As a central part of the applications for the National Superintendent of the Year program that 萝莉网manages annually, every state-level nominee is required to complete a series of four essays. The prompts require each superintendent to draw on the totality of their experiences over time to capture in words their leadership for learning philosophy and accomplishments, public communication skills, community involvement and professionalism.
Each of the submitted essays, running 1,000 words or less, captures the sharp thinking and meritorious actions taken by those leaders or the school systems they oversee.
In the pages that follow, we鈥檝e dubbed them 鈥渨inning ideas鈥� from 18 of the 49 state-level honorees in 2025 (Hawaii does not have a state applicant) in the National Superintendent of the Year program.
鈥� Jay P. Goldman
Full Roster of State Honorees:鈥俆he limitations of space prevent us from featuring every educator recognized in the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year program. A complete roster of each state鈥檚 award winner, along with their biographies and photos, can be found on the .
PRACTICAL TIDBIT
Interactions with Impact
I send out a weekly 鈥淗appy Friday鈥� e-mail to all employees. This communication is designed to inspire and build a team concept within our district. I add an encouraging message that teachers often post and share with their students in the classroom. To me, this is a great example of how as the superintendent of over 18,000 students and nearly 3,000 employees, I can have weekly interactions that make a significant impact.
Throughout these essays, we鈥檝e included 鈥淧ractical Tidbits.鈥� These are brief excerpts from the applications of several 2025 National Superintendent of the Year candidates sharing their ideas about various school district operations and challenges. The excerpts have been edited for brevity and clarity.
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