When I became the superintendent of the Renton (Washington) School District in 2006, I made a point to bring together educators, parents, community members, and students to give the district an academic makeover. I wanted to increase the graduation rate and reduce the drop-out rate, as well as update our curriculum.
This year, our RSD boasted a graduation rate of 93 percent and we've filled our schools with 70 teachers with math endorsements. For these and other strides, I was honored to be named Washington state's 2011 Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year.
Even so, one of my favorite things to do each week is to visit 10 to 20 classrooms every week to see learning strategies in action. To support teachers, I must understand the challenges and opportunities they face on a daily basis.
— Mary Alice Heuschel '04, Superintendent of Renton School District
