Rebirth Through Universal Pre-K
June 01, 2025
My main goal as superintendent always has been to ensure every student, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to high-quality education.
One of the most significant strategies I have implemented to close the gap is establishing a high-quality universal pre-K program. This initiative aimed to address the achievement gap experienced by economically disadvantaged students by providing equal access to early education, which is crucial for long-term academic success.
Before the implementation of this program, access to early education in Regional School Unit 12 in central Maine was primarily available to families who could afford private preschool options. Economically disadvantaged students entered kindergarten without formal education, resulting in a noticeable achievement gap. Before the pre-kindergarten program was established in 2015, only 20 percent of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds met the state standard in reading by 3rd grade.
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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 萝卜AV视频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
All-Day Preschool
Providing access to preschool in South Dakota is not the norm. Our state does not fund education below the age of 5. Over the last four to five years, our district has experienced a severe shortage of daycare and preschool options in our communities. We were losing quality employees when they could not find care for their young children, and parents who could not afford private daycare or preschool were sending their children to kindergarten disadvantaged. To combat these two problems, we created and now provide all-day preschool in our schools to support existing programs. District staff can enroll their students for free. Other parents鈥� fees are income-based, putting equity front and center.
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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