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Norwalk Educator is Iowa Superintendent of the Year

 

September 30, 2014

Superintendent Denny Wulf of the Norwalk Community School District has been named the 2014-15 Iowa Superintendent of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa.

SAI Executive Director Dan Smith emphasized, “Denny Wulf is a leader of leaders. He has been selected by his peers to head a local superintendents group and has served on multiple Department of Education task forces. Dr. Wulf is well grounded in the use of research to drive improvements to teaching and learning, and the district is a first-year recipient of the Teacher Leadership and Compensation grant beginning this school year.”

Wulf has been superintendent of the Norwalk district since 2004. He previously served as Norwalk’s middle school principal from 1994-2004. He began his education career as a high school science teacher and coach, also in the district. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in science education, Wulf earned his master’s in educational leadership and his doctorate in educational leadership from Drake University.

He has also earned additional recognition during his career, including his selection as the 1999 Iowa Middle Level Principal of the Year and as a National Milken Educator in 2000.

“I am excited to accept this award for my district and our school board. It represents the efforts of hundreds of staff members. Their work improves achievement for thousands of Norwalk students and their families. It is nice to know these efforts are noticed inside and outside of Norwalk,” Wulf expressed.

The Superintendent of the Year is chosen based on the Iowa Standards for School Leaders. This set of knowledge and skills focuses on the ability of a leader to promote the success of all students with:

  • his/her shared vision of learning;
  • the presence of a school culture and instructional program favorable to student learning and staff professional development;
  • a safe, efficient and effective learning environment;
  • his/her work with parents and the community;
  • fairness, integrity and ethics; and
  • an understanding of the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.

Wulf was nominated by his peers and selected for the award by a committee of Iowa superintendents. Administrator of the Year recipients will be honored at a governor’s awards ceremony in late spring and SAI’s awards reception next August. He will also represent Iowa in the National Superintendent of the Year Program, sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators.

Congratulations also to award finalists Davis Eidahl of Ottumwa and Sam Miller of Solon; and nominees Mike Haluska of Decorah and Chris Hoover of Maquoketa.