Joe Gothard, Ed.D. Email & Phone Number

Dr. Joe Gothard, a Madison native, is firmly grounded in the community and in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). An MMSD alum, Dr. Gothard grew up on Madison’s east side and attended Elvehjem Elementary School, Sennett Middle School and La Follette High School. Having dedicated more than 30 years to public education, Dr. Gothard is a long-time supporter of students, staff and families and believes that people are at the center of everything we do. Dr. Gothard launched his teaching career as a high school biology teacher at La Follette. He has also served as an educational assistant, a football coach, a principal, dean of students and as assistant superintendent for secondary schools in MMSD. Additionally, he was an MMSD parent. All of these experiences gave him a unique opportunity to view education from different perspectives and contributed to the leader he is today. Most recently, Dr. Gothard served as superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS), a position he held for seven years. His collaboration and partnerships with the community resulted in many successful efforts and programs, including development of a strategic plan to focus on academic achievement; revitalization of the district’s facilities and capital implementation plan to share projects and budgets with the public in real time; and creation of Envision SPPS, designed to use school buildings in the best way possible to contribute to students’ learning. The opening of East African Elementary Magnet School is a highlight of his time at St. Paul. He supported this community-led initiative, believed to be a first-of-its-kind public school in the nation. Prior to his tenure in St. Paul, Dr. Gothard spent four years as the superintendent of the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District.Dr. Gothard was named the 2024 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year and went on to be honored as the School Superintendents Association (AASA) 2024 National Superintendent of the Year. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Laureate from the Junior Achievement North Hall of Fame, the Edgewood College Distinguished Alumni Award, the Minnesota Association of School Administrators Award and the MMSD Commitment to Diversity Award. He was also a Green Garner Award Finalist, Council of the Great City Schools. Dr. Gothard earned his degrees from Edgewood College, where he sits on the Board of Trustees. He was appointed to serve as Superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District on February 26, 2024 and began his duties on July 1, 2024.

Listed skills include Educational Leadership, Curriculum Design, Curriculum Development, Staff Development, and 20 others.