MMSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Joe Gothard, Exceeds Expectations in Annual Performance Review

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education has completed its annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard. This review process, which covered the first year of the superintendent’s tenure, was a collaborative effort between the Board of Education and the superintendent, utilizing a comprehensive framework that included the Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ First-Year Evaluation prompts and elements from the Superintendent Job Description.

The evaluation found that the superintendent exceeded expectations in all six key areas:

Community Relationships and Engagement
Teaming, Management, and Oversight
Educational Excellence
Ethical Decision-making
Board Relationships and Leadership Skills

“We’re grateful for Dr. Gothard’s strong commitment to students and to strengthening community relationships, partnerships and pride in the district,” said Board President Nichelle Nichols. “We also appreciate the collaborative way that he works with the Board. Our shared leadership is critical to the district’s success, and together, we set the tone for the district and drive our vision forward.”

The Board’s statement is as follows:

On behalf of the Board of Education, we are pleased to share an overview of Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard’s recent annual evaluation.

We were pleased to see several academic achievements. One example is the notable growth we’ve seen in literacy and math, showing that more students are now meeting grade-level expectations. We were also pleased to see that MMSD’s most significant gains are among students who have historically been underserved, showing that opportunity gaps are beginning to close. While these are important successes, we stress that work to address long-standing disparities must continue, and that these persistent challenges remain at the forefront of the superintendent’s work moving forward at MMSD.

We’d also like to highlight the increase in students participating and excelling in Advanced Placement (AP) exams. This spring, over 2,000 high school students took more than 4,200 Advanced Placement exams, and 80% of them scored three or higher (up from 76% last school year). We know that these opportunities benefit our students by saving them time and money, and also may lead to them earning college credit and even an associate’s degree while in high school. Additionally, we are pleased that more students are coming to school because attendance is a strong predictor of student success. When they are in class, they are engaged, learning and developing the skills they need to thrive.

We appreciate the initiative the superintendent took to quickly expand full-day 4K programming at Huegel, Lapham, Midvale, and Muir, along with introducing a pilot five-day 4K offering at Olson. The ability to grow the 4K program within a limited amount of time speaks to his dedication to early learning and commitment to ensuring that students have the foundation they need for educational success. In addition, “Mad for Reading,” a citywide literacy initiative, was launched, and MMSD offered the first Freedom School in Wisconsin at Mendota Elementary.

We were particularly impressed by the superintendent’s dedication to community engagement, which has been vital in strengthening public support and led to the successful passage of two historic referendums, garnering approximately 70% of the vote. In addition, he is committed to further building that support through advocacy and raising awareness of the financial challenges public schools are facing at the state and federal levels. The superintendent’s commitment to visiting schools and engaging with students, staff and families has fostered a strong sense of partnership among all stakeholders, and this is evident as he continues to lead with People, Purpose and Pride.

We also recognize the significant progress he has made in district operations, including streamlining key functions to maximize efficiency, using data-driven dashboards to improve staffing and establishing an Enrollment Strategy Team. He has launched our much needed boundary review, “Building for the Future,” and we are currently finalizing our strategic framework, “MMSD: Excellence Together.” All of these efforts are crucial for the long-term sustainability and success of our district, and we are pleased to see this work moving forward.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue our partnership with the superintendent as we work together on the district’s new strategic plan. Our shared priorities are centered on ensuring that all students are valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. We are committed to building a learning community that delivers high-quality instruction, strengthens positive relationships and partners with families to achieve educational excellence for all.

We look forward to our continued work together. We will provide updates on our progress and the measurable objectives we will set to guide the district’s future.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.