JANESVILLE, WI — The School District of Janesville is completing the first year of a transformative partnership with Studer Education designed to strengthen leadership, improve organizational culture, and better support success for every student across the district.

Built around Studer Education’s “Hardwiring Excellence” framework and Nine Pillars of Leadership Excellence, the initiative equips district and school leaders with coaching, tools, and strategies to better support teachers, staff, students, and families while creating a stronger, more connected educational environment.

The work has been made possible through the support of Forward Foundation and its Vision Forward Fund, whose investment in education through Forward Janesville’s Keep Kids Learning initiative has allowed the district to access Studer Education’s nationally recognized leadership development and organizational improvement resources.

“Through this partnership, we are identifying clear leadership practices to better align our goals with our results,” said School Board President Lisa Hurda. “We are committed to continuous improvement to ensure Janesville remains a premier place to learn and work.”

“We know that to have a thriving business and employer community, the quality of our workforce is essential. Under the leadership of Superintendent Mark Holzman and Dr. Allison DeGraaf, Director of Learning & Innovation, the school district has made strong improvements,” said Oakleigh Ryan, a member of the SDJ–Forward Janesville Education Council that recommended the grant to the Foundation. “The state report card is an important signal, but the fundamental driver of student success isn’t a test—it’s the relationship between teacher and student. Building a culture that recognizes the importance of each individual is essential.”

A Data-Driven Strategy for Success

At the heart of this initiative is the District Scorecard, a strategic tool that aligns goals, behaviors, and processes. The district has set a rigorous headline goal: By the 2026-27 school year, at least 15 schools will meet or exceed expectations on the State of Wisconsin School Report Card.

The district’s progress is measured across four key pillars, which were established as part of an earlier strategic planning process completed with community participation:

• Student Academic Excellence: Improving English Language Arts and Mathematics achievement while increasing attendance rates.
• Staff Excellence: Cultivating a motivated workforce and establishing baseline turnover rates to drive retention.
• Operational Excellence: Enhancing facility environments and improving the timeliness of work orders.
• Family and Community Partnerships: Increasing engagement and satisfaction.

Listening to the Community

To ensure the work is informed by those it serves, SDJ conducted a comprehensive survey of staff, students, and families.

• Staff reported high levels of appreciation for supportive leadership and collaboration, while identifying compensation and communication as areas for growth.
• Families showed strong loyalty, with 80% recommending their schools to others.
• Students reported feeling that their learning is prioritized and that they have opportunities to succeed.

Building a Culture of Support

The district is moving beyond data collection to “systematic rounding,” a practice in which leaders meet one-on-one with staff to identify barriers to their work and recognize “Bright Spots” of excellence across the system. The practice helps ensure that employees are connected to the district’s mission and that they feel their contributions matter.

“Our goal is to build a culture of always, not sometimes,” Holzman said. “I know firsthand that the best predictor of positive student outcomes is a great teacher, and it’s critical that we stay connected to them. By using technology to support rounding, we can spot trends before they become problematic. And rounding isn’t just for teachers—it’s for all staff across the district, including the professionals who keep our buildings running, our students nourished, and our technology working.”

Building on Past Work 

The district began work with Studer Education last spring in preparation for a 2025–26 school-year launch. As part of the re-engagement, the district worked with its coach to ensure a continued focus on culture that builds on existing efforts, including the strategic plan framework, the 100-day planning cycle focused on student achievement, and professional learning.

“Studer Education is not new to our district,” Holzman said. “We were one of their first clients through a grant from Quint and Rishy Studer in 2018. The difference between now and then is the network of districts working with Studer Education applying the same principles. It’s a strong learning community committed to continuous improvement.”

To learn more about the Schol Districts Report Card and progress toward goals, visit: https://wispolicyforum.org/research/school-district-of-janesville-datatool/

Contacts:

Forward Janesville:
[email protected]

School District of Janesville:
Patti Lux Mlsna
608-743-5000
[email protected]