News release
JANESVILLE — Following the recent announcement of Supt. Mark Holzman’s retirement, the board of education has officially named Dr. Allison DeGraaf as the next Superintendent of the School District of Janesville, effective with the 2027–2028 school year.
A 35-year veteran of the district, Dr. DeGraaf brings extensive experience in executive leadership, academic innovation, and proven success to the superintendency. Since 2017, she has served as the Director of Learning and Innovation. Her long-standing career in Janesville includes roles as Principal of Kennedy Elementary School (2011–2017), Academic Learning Coach (1997–2011), and classroom teacher, where she first joined the district in 1991.
“The Board of Education is confident that Dr. DeGraaf will provide the steady continuity, strategic vision, and focus on academic excellence needed to build upon our district’s incredible momentum,” said Board President Lisa Hurda. “She knows our community inside and out, understands the needs of our students and staff, and holds deep-rooted trust across Janesville.”
Throughout her tenure, Dr. DeGraaf has helped drive significant systemic progress across the district. As Director of Learning and Innovation, she has led curriculum adoption, worked closely with district leadership on strategic goals and referendum planning, chaired the Education Council in partnership with Forward Janesville, and established rigorous hiring protocols for district administrators.
Her key leadership highlights and qualifications include:
- National Academic Recognition: Led Kennedy Elementary School to earn prestigious National Blue Ribbon School honors in 2012.
- Academic Growth: Driven measurable improvements in high school ACT scores, 3rd-grade reading proficiency, and district-wide academic performance.
- Distinguished Career Accolades: Recognized as Forward Janesville Educator of the Year (2024), District Administrator of the Year (2020), Principal of the Year (2014), and Teacher of the Year (1998).
- Community Leadership: Active board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Janesville, contributor to the Wisconsin DPI Excellence for All / Closing Gaps Committee, and international keynote speaker.
Dr. DeGraaf holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and maintains an active Wisconsin Superintendent License. As a longtime Janesville resident and district parent with a child currently attending local schools, she brings a dedication to the community that is both professional and personal.
“I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of the School District of Janesville,” said 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 our staff and families so that every learner can reach their full potential.”
The Board of Education looks forward to working closely with Dr. DeGraaf and Superintendent Holzman throughout the upcoming transition period.
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.”