MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Pecatonica Area School District Superintendent and candidate for Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly announced today she has received the endorsement of President Larry Miller of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. As well as Racine Educators United (REA-REAA) President Angelina Cruz, UW Parkside Associate Professor of Biology and Racine Alderperson Natalia Taft, and Director Marva Herndon of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.
“Dr. Underly’s platform is centered around rooting out the inequity our public school students face in Wisconsin,” said Director Herndon. “She is dedicated to closing the opportunity gaps students of color and lower-income students face. Jill understands that we need to be enacting active anti-racist policies to ensure that every child receives the high-quality education they deserve. And Dr. Jill Underly is the candidate with the strongest proven record fighting for accountability for the school choice system.”
“We need someone at DPI who truly understands the needs of our urban schools,” said President Miller. “Dr. Jill Underly has deep experience in urban schools, as well as suburban and rural schools and our University of Wisconsin System. She’s the only candidate running a district as this devastating pandemic takes its toll on our students, and can connect the dots on common challenges students in rural and urban districts face, such as transportation costs, high-speed internet access, physical and mental healthcare, poverty, and special education.”
“As a teacher, principal, student advisor, and administrator, Jill Underly has dedicated her life to public education with more than two decades of experience in urban, suburban, and rural schools,” said President Cruz. “Dr. Underly is uniquely qualified to lead our public schools during this incredibly challenging time and she’ll prioritize what’s best for our students, their families, and our educators.”
“Dr. Jill Underly will fight every day for our public education system and will never give in to school privatizers who make it harder for every kid in public schools,” said Professor Taft. “Jill understands that investing in our public schools is the only way to achieve true equity for Wisconsin’s students.”
“I’m incredibly honored to have the support of a diverse and extraordinary group of urban educators,” said Dr. Underly. “I am committed to solving problems of inequity and closing the achievement gaps plaguing our public schools. I have a proven record of advocating for and showing up for our kids and our public schools and promoting the research-backed proposals that make our system better. I’m ready to get to work on day one as Wisconsin’s next State Superintendent of Public Instruction.”
