Monday, July 29, 2024
Josh Robinson of Osceola joined the DPI in July as Assistant State Superintendent for the Division of Academic Excellence. He comes to us from the School District of Frederic in Northwestern Wisconsin, about 75 miles north of the Twin cities, where he was the CEO and district administrator for the past twelve years.
“I'm excited to be in this role... to help students across our state thrive. This is, of course, far more complex and challenging than it sounds. I'm excited to work across our divisions, in partnership with our school districts, and with agency partners to positively impact student success,” Robinson said.
“Being a superintendent in a small rural school district over the past 12 years has allowed me to get to know the inner workings of a district pretty thoroughly. I was lucky to wear many hats.”
He continued, “I'm fortunate to have a pretty varied background that includes teaching and coaching, building-level administration, charter school administration, district administrator, technical college board trustee, university instructor, and WASDA board member…. As a result, I feel connected not only to the education profession, but to so many incredible people across many industries who care deeply about the success of our students.”
The role of the Division of Academic Excellence is to increase the success of Wisconsin school children-- whether that is through licensing and training the teachers, supporting the curriculum, or making sure our schools are treating children fairly.
Robinson understands the complexity of working at the state level, across all the areas that DAE supports. He is eager to engage with DAE colleagues and educators around the state in order to capitalize on opportunities to increase student success. “Our strength lies in our people. A key opportunity we have is to foster strong relationships with our districts.”
Robinson hopes to foster openness and innovation, a reflection of his values and personality. “I'm a pretty down to earth, positive person who likes to focus on strengths and find hidden opportunities in just about anything. I enjoy listening, learning, trying new things, and working hard. There isn't much I don't like to do.”
As he gets settled in at the DPI, Robinson wants to hear from you. “I'm open to exploring ways to work together on behalf of our students, so please reach out with ideas.”