MADISON – After declining to endorse a candidate in 2021, the state’s school administrators’ group has chosen to back Jeff Wright to replace incumbent Jill Underly as superintendent of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
The endorsement of Wright Thursday by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) cited the current Sauk Prairie schools superintendent’s qualities of collaboration and competency:
“As a collaborative leader, (Wright) has a proven track record of uniting diverse voices to solve problems and delivering fiscally responsible solutions,” AWSA said in its statement (full text below).
These qualities are in stark contrast to the divisive tenure of Underly, recently criticized by Gov. Tony Evers, who has failed to score any endorsements from the state’s major education groups.
Responding to the AWSA endorsement, Jeff Wright said:
“I’m grateful for the administrators of K-12 schools who recognize the need to restore competent leadership at the Department of Public Instruction and a real sense of collaboration with all who partner in keeping Wisconsin public schools great.”
