Less than two weeks after being named the national school superintendent of the year, the leader of the St. Paul (Minnesota) district is leaving that post for the top job in the Madison (Wisconsin) district.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that the Madison school board has approved the hiring of Joe Gothard, who has been the superintendent in St. Paul since 2017. He is expected to start his new job no later than July 1.
"Dr. Gothard has been a strong leader for [St. Paul], and we are grateful for his nearly seven years of service to this community," said Halla Henderson, chair of the St. Paul school board. "At the same time, we are excited he has the opportunity to continue his career and return to his hometown with his family."
A native of Madison, Gothard had worked in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) for 18 years as a teacher, principal and district administrator.
“Having grown up in Madison, and having attended MMSD from kindergarten through grade 12, I am excited to return home,” Gothard said in a statement on the Madison district website.
Earlier this month, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, selected Gothard as its national superintendent of the year.
