Prioritizing Graduation for Students With Disabilities
June 01, 2025
When I assumed the superintendency of the School District of Superior, located in the northwestern tip of Wisconsin, in 2018, our graduation rates were some of the lowest in Wisconsin, ranking in the bottom 5 percent of the state.
Approximately 85 percent of all students graduated from the School District of Superior with a high school diploma. Black students and students receiving special education saw rates as low as 62 percent. These data points became the primary focus during my first months as superintendent.
As a former school psychologist and special education coordinator, I quickly observed that students with IEPs at the secondary level were not properly placed in general education classes where they could receive the least restrictive learning environment. Additionally, no systems were in place at the secondary level to effectively analyze student data and identify interventions and support for at-risk students who were not graduating.
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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 .
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