As a former U.S. Secretary of Education, I’ve seen an array of schools, districts, and superintendents. I’ve never been more convinced that D’Andre is a rising star and would be a tremendous superintendent hire for any school district lucky enough to land him.

How well America improves its public schools depends on the dedication and the skill that professional educators bring to the task and D’Andre Weaver has brought extraordinary levels of both to his educational career. As an educator, I wish public education had a lot more people like D’Andre Weaver. We need them.

I have no doubt that D’Andre will be an excellent superintendent. He has continually demonstrated the ability to educate challenging populations of students, thrives in diverse settings and is able to create an inclusive culture where all children thrive. He champions innovation (e.g., STEM, personalized learning, etc) and is also driven by the pursuits of equity and justice, two concepts that seem particularly critical at this moment in time.