For the first time in 14 years, AASA, the School Superintendents Association, will have a new leader, as longtime executive director Daniel Domenech retires and a trusted colleague steps in to take over.
When Domenech retires in February, former AASA President David Schuler will step in as executive director, the organization announced this week. Domenech has been in the role since July 2008.
Schuler is currently the superintendent in Arlington Heights, Ill., where he has built a reputation for advancing college- and career-readiness initiatives. He was named the 2018 National Superintendent of the Year.
Schuler was the president of AASA鈥檚 executive committee in 2015-16, and served on the committee from 2011-2017.
鈥淏eing a superintendent represents an opportunity to ensure that no child in our country is marginalized. All of us in public education have the chance to inspire new dreams in the minds of our students to imagine the possibilities beyond high school graduation,鈥� Schuler said in a statement.
鈥淎s we continue to reshape America鈥檚 public education agenda, I am honored and humbled to have been selected to lead AASA, an organization that has become the standard-bearer for strengthening school system leadership while celebrating and embracing the magnificent achievements occurring in our school communities on a day-in, day-out basis,鈥� he said.
Schuler will join the Arlington, Va.-based organization Jan. 1 as 鈥渆xecutive director designate鈥� and work briefly with Domenech before he exits Feb. 24.
鈥楾his is my time鈥�
The AASA is a professional organization with more than 13,000 members from districts across the country, and is also one of the most influential in K-12 circles. It is active in federal lobbying on education funding and policy, runs training programs for members, and has created networks for districts to share school improvement ideas.
As a superintendent, Schuler helped stand up a career readiness center with hundreds of partners and work-based learning experiences, according to the release from AASA.
For AASA, Schuler started the 鈥淩edefining Ready鈥� initiative in 2017, which aims to introduce new research-based metrics to assess students鈥� college and career readiness, the organization said.
Domenech said Schuler鈥檚 experience with the organization will be helpful in navigating the transition. His drive and desire to be 鈥渋nnovative鈥� and 鈥渙n the cutting edge of new developments鈥� makes him a 鈥減erfect fit for the job,鈥� Domenech said.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted and looking forward to beginning the process of the transition with him because I know that he will hit the ground running and move the organization forward,鈥� Domenech said in an interview. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the work that we have done in the time that I鈥檝e been here, but there鈥檚 still plenty of room to improve and to grow, and and I think he鈥檚 the perfect person to do that.鈥�
Even though he鈥檚 retiring after 55 years working in the education sector, Domenech said he plans to stay involved 鈥渉owever I can.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite the ride, and it鈥檚 been one that I鈥檝e enjoyed immensely,鈥� Domenech said. 鈥淏ut there comes a time when you know it鈥檚 time to step out, and this is my time.鈥�
Over the past three years, as COVID-19 has upended public education, some in the community have lost sight of the value of schools, teachers, and administrators to students, Domenech said. He hopes that won鈥檛 continue.
鈥淟et鈥檚 come together,鈥� he said, 鈥渢o create the kind of equity and programs that all of our kids need.鈥�
