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EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

Across the country, superintendents are leading with vision, heart and determination to ensure every student receives the support they need to thrive. Your efforts — customized, personalized, community-driven and deeply rooted in the context of your community — are transforming outcomes for students and strengthening the instructional core of our schools.

As you’ll read in this issue of School Administrator, from Guilford County, N.C., to Portland, Ore., and beyond, superintendents have championed innovative programs that meet students where they are. Whether it’s retired teachers returning to serve as math tutors, paraprofessionals trained in the science of reading, or after-school programs that double as college-prep hubs, the work you are leading is making a measurable difference in the future trajectory of our children’s lives.

It’s important to celebrate the impact these efforts have had on the broader profession with the incredible work happening among districts large and small across every state in our great nation. It’s a realization of what’s possible when leadership, community and evidence-based practices come together.

As public education leaders, let’s lift up the incredible stories of impactful success. Let’s recognize the educators who make it happen every day and the students whose lives are forever changed. And let’s keep pushing forward because every child deserves a champion, and each of us is determined to be just that.

Advocacy and Impact

The success stories we read about didn’t happen by accident. They are the result of strong leadership, strategic planning and a relentless commitment to student growth. Superintendents have turned ideas into actions and actions into opportunities. They have also advocated fiercely for the resources needed to sustain these programs. Even as federal ESSER funds sunset and state budgets tighten, district leaders continue to prioritize student achievement for those in high-need areas in their local community.

At AASA, we have had the privilege of working alongside public education leaders, amplifying their voices and supporting their advocacy. We have seen firsthand how superintendents have stepped up — not just within their districts, but on the state and national stage — to advocate for public education funding.

These efforts have helped secure critical investments and have kept the spotlight on what matters most: ensuring every child has access to high-quality instruction and the support they need to succeed. While state and federal funding may fluctuate, the commitment of our superintendents remains steadfast.

The Promise of AI

As we look to the future, one of the most exciting developments in instructional support is the growing role of artificial intelligence. AI-powered tools are beginning to offer personalized tutoring, real-time feedback and instructional planning support that can help educators better meet the diverse needs of their students.

When thoughtfully integrated into existing systems, AI has the potential to free up teacher time, enhance student engagement and provide administrators with actionable insights. But as with any innovation, success depends on leadership, alignment and a clear focus on student outcomes.

Âܲ·AVÊÓƵwill host its second AI Super Summit this November in Scottsdale, Ariz. This event will bring together district leaders, researchers and practitioners to explore how AI can be used responsibly and effectively to support teaching and learning. This event sold out last January, so I encourage you to register soon.

EdLeader Promise Network

In the spirit of commitment and collaboration, we are also excited to host the EdLeader Promise Annual Event this month in Glendale, Ariz. This gathering marks the official launch of AASA’s new EdLeader Promise Network, a dynamic union of AASA’s Learning 2025 Network and Battelle for Kids’ EdLeader21 Network.

Grounded in the Public Education Promise, this network is built on a future-ready framework that places students at the center, supports communities and prepares every child for real life in the real world.

The Public Education Promise is a bold commitment to ensure that every child in every community receives a future-ready education.

It’s about creating schools that are places of belonging and possibility, where curiosity is nurtured, resilience is built and life skills are developed. This vision is already resonating with leaders across the country who are working to make it a reality in their districts.

As the EdLeader Promise Network grows, it will serve as a powerful platform for collaboration, innovation and shared leadership. Members will help shape how the Public Education Promise framework drives impact nationwide — one school, one child and one community at a time. It’s more than a network. It’s a movement to transform public education for generations to come.

Be well, my colleagues and friends!

David Schuler is Âܲ·AVÊÓƵexecutive director. Twitter: