Dr. Allison DeGraaf is the new Superintendent of the School District of Janesville, effective with the 2027–2028 school year.

On behalf of the Board of Education, I am thrilled to share some wonderful news about the future of our district. Following a thorough process, we have selected Dr. Allison DeGraaf as the new Superintendent of the School District of Janesville, effective with the 2027–2028 school year.

As many of you know firsthand, Dr. DeGraaf is a dedicated, 35-year veteran of our district. She brings to this role a rare depth of institutional knowledge, executive vision, and a commitment to the success of our educators, support staff, students, and families.

Dr. DeGraaf’s journey in Janesville spans every level of our system:

• Classroom & Instructional: She began her career right here as a classroom teacher in 1991 and later served as an Academic Learning Coach.

• Building-Level Leadership: As principal of Kennedy Elementary School from 2011 to 2017, she led the school to earn prestigious national recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2012.

• District-Level Innovation: Throughout her tenure as the Director of Learning and Innovation, Dr. DeGraaf has helped drive significant systemic progress across the district. She has led curriculum adoption, worked closely with district leadership on strategic goals and referendum planning, chaired the Education Council in partnership with the Forward Janesville Chamber of Commerce, and established rigorous hiring protocols for district administrators.
   

Her contributions have been recognized across the state and community—most recently as the Forward Janesville Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year (2024), the District Administrator of the Year (2020), Principal of the Year (2014), and Teacher of the Year (1998).
 

Beyond her extensive credentials—including a Ph.D. from UW-Madison and her Superintendent License—Dr. DeGraaf’s connection to our schools is deeply personal. As a long-time Janesville resident and district parent, she truly understands what makes our school community special.

"I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of the School District of Janesville," shared Dr. DeGraaf. "Having spent my entire career working alongside the extraordinary educators, staff, and families in this community, I know firsthand how special our district is. I look forward to partnering with all of you as we continue to elevate student achievement, support our staff, and empower every learner to reach their full potential."

The Board is confident that Dr. DeGraaf will provide the strong leadership, steady continuity, and collaborative vision needed to build upon our incredible momentum.

We look forward to working closely with Dr. DeGraaf during this upcoming transition period. Please join us in celebrating her appointment and congratulating her on this well-deserved achievement!

With gratitude for everything you do,

Lisa Hurda, School District of Janesville Board of Education President

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Overview of the months-long process the Board has undertaken regarding the upcoming leadership transition for the School District of Janesville.

• Early January 2026: Superintendent Holzman confidentially shared his intent to retire at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 academic year.

• February 2026: The Board discussed the distinct advantage of approaching a highly qualified internal candidate. Recognizing this individual's achievements, expertise, and proven leadership within the School District of Janesville, the Board reached a consensus authorizing the then-Board President Kevin Murray and Vice President Lisa Hurda to gauge their interest in the role.

• March 2026: The Board held an exploratory conversation with the internal candidate, who expressed a strong, positive desire to step into this executive leadership position.

• June 2026: Superintendent Holzman formally submitted his letter of resignation for retirement. To protect the integrity of this personnel matter and the Board’s active internal discussions, this remained confidential. The Board subsequently authorized Lisa Hurda, current School Board President, to move forward with the internal candidate.

• July 2026: The Board collaborated to create a dedicated space and time for an internal interview process with the internal candidate. A preliminary set of interview questions was created, and valuable feedback, suggestions, and revisions from fellow Board members were received to finalize the interview materials.

• August 2026: On August 25th, the Board conducted a formal interview with the internal candidate during a closed session. This interview thoroughly solidified their consensus that they were the ideal selection for our next Superintendent, and the Board authorized Lisa Hurda to initiate contract negotiations.

• September 2026: With contract negotiations complete, the Board publicly announced Superintendent Holzman's upcoming retirement and named a new superintendent.
   

Board President, Lisa Hurda, further shares,

"We are incredibly excited to recommend Dr. Allison DeGraaf- a 35-year veteran of our district - as the next Superintendent of the School District of Janesville, effective for the 2027-2028 academic year. This timeline reflects a tireless, dedicated effort by the entire School Board since the beginning of the year. Throughout this personnel matter, the Board has carefully and deliberately exercised its executive power to appoint a District Administrator. We have operated strictly within the guidelines outlined in board policies as it relates to the selection and hiring of a District Administrator. While our policies state that the Board may engage professional consultants to assist in a search, we made the strategic decision not to engage an external firm. Because we already had an exceptionally strong internal candidate driving success within our district, we chose to focus our efforts here. We wholeheartedly believe in and support Dr. Allison DeGraaf, and we are confident she is the right leader to continue the exceptional work happening in our schools."