On June 5, 2024, Dr. Underly appointed Dr. Barb Novak as the Director of the DPI’s Office of Literacy. Dr. Underly also appointed the current Frederic School District Superintendent, Josh Robinson, as the Assistant State Superintendent for the Division for Academic Excellence.
In her statement, Dr. Underly said, “both Dr. Novak and Superintendent Robinson bring decades of experience in education and will help the department achieve our goal of meeting the needs of all Wisconsin students and educators. I am excited to welcome them to the DPI, and I know their expertise and unique perspectives will help guide them as leaders in each of their respective roles.”
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Josh Robinson brings 25 years of public education experience to the table, including work as a teacher, principal and superintendent of the Frederic School District. As per the Wisconsin DPI’s news release, “Robinson is an advocate for advancing educational practices, is dedicated to student success, and has a track record of fostering collaborative engagement and meaningful relationships within educational communities.” He began his new position as Assistant State Superintendent for the Division for Academic Excellence on July 1, 2024.
Dr. Barb Novak has over two decades of experience supporting reading and literacy development in Wisconsin. Her roles have included reading teacher, literacy coach, as well as 10+ years working at the Wisconsin DPI with a focus on literacy. As per the DPI’s news release, “she is a believer in building systems to support student learning, maintaining asset-based approaches to each student, and developing educator expertise. Dr. Novak will lead the DPI’s work on implementing the requirements of 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, which reimagines the way Wisconsin students are taught to read.” Dr. Novak began her work as Director of the DPI’s Office of Literacy on June 17, 2024.
ADDITIONAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Along with the above-mentioned appointments, there are two other staffing changes to report:
- Dr. John Johnson, the DPI Deputy State Superintendent for the past three years, is moving to a senior policy advisor role in Dr. Underly’s cabinet.
- Associate Deputy State Superintendent, Thomas McCarthy, is scheduled to move into the role of Deputy State Superintendent as of July 1, 2024.
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