Deborah Kerr
Dr. Deborah Kerr is the immediate past Superintendent of the St. Francis Public School District, located in the Milwaukee suburb of St. Francis, Wisconsin. The district prides itself on its diverse composition: 50% of students are people of color, 50% face economic challenges, and an additional 50% are enrolled from 60 other Metro Milwaukee schools through the state open enrollment program.
Dr. Kerr's expertise extends beyond her past role, including her tenure as Superintendent of the Brown Deer School District, Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District, and Wilmot Graded School District in her first superintendency. Deb is only one of five women to serve as a Superintendent in Wisconsin for more than 25 years! Her credentials include a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University, a Master of Education from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and a Bachelor of Arts & Science from Valparaiso University. Dr. Kerr's journey began as a teacher at the renowned University of Chicago – Laboratory Schools, and over time, her role expanded to encompass middle school principalship, assistant principalship, adjunct professorships, and award-winning coaching stints, notably leading a girls’ varsity high school basketball team to back-to-back state championships in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Her experience also involves membership and leadership roles in local, regional, state, and national organizations. She served as only the 6th female President of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, a professional organization with over 10,000 educational leader members. Deb’s leadership mission, to this day, is to increase the number of women leaders and women of color in the superintendency. This is why she created opportunities for women nationwide to engage, embrace, and develop their networks through “Bold Women, Bold Conversations” events. Her events have brought thousands of women together to empower each other, network, and rise and elevate in their respective roles. Successful leaders develop a network of critical friends with whom they can converse and share situations without a filter. Women leaders must build a trusted network of colleagues, recruit like-minded peers, and connect with other professionals who can help them accomplish their goals. Bold women defy expectations and inspire others to pursue their dreams! Our young women need to see not only women in leadership roles but also women who look like them in leading our school communities. Deb's philosophy: If we all recruited a talented staff member into this leadership pathway, our schools could equitably represent the female populations we serve.
Dr. Deborah Kerr's legacy is one of transformational leadership. She believes creating a holistic, impactful educational experience requires collaborative partnerships. Through her unwavering dedication and collaboration with exceptional educators, she advocates that closing the achievement gap is not merely a lofty aspiration but an attainable reality, achievable through a collective commitment to excellence and equity for every student. We must learn and lead together to best serve all our children.
