Match 1: East Baton Rouge Parish Schools vs. Clark County School District
Match 2: Orange County Public Schools vs. Clayton County Public Schools
Match 3: Seminole County Public Schools vs. Norwalk Public Schools
Match 4: Huntsville City Schools vs. Wichita Public Schools
Match 5: New London Public Schools vs. Tangipahoa Parish School System
Match 6: Wake County Public School System vs. School District of Palm Beach County
BYE: Hillsborough County Public Schools
Leadership excellence is a defining strength of East Baton Rouge Parish School System, reflected in consistent recognition at the regional and national levels. We are proud to have a Region V finalist for the 2026 Magnet Schools of America Principal of the Year, Nanette McCann of Baton Rouge Magnet High School. The district also celebrated the 2024 Teacher of the Year, Cristina Manzanares Mariscal of Westdale Middle World Language Immersion Magnet, and the 2025 Region V Principal of the Year, Paul Jackson of Scotlandville Magnet High School. District leaders, educators, and students regularly present at the MSA national conference, demonstrating leadership beyond our classrooms. Our Immediate Past MSA President, Theresa Porter, recently retired after serving as Executive Director of Innovation and leaving a lasting legacy of excellence. Magnet Office leadership includes two MSA Magnet Experts, and the Magnet Director currently serves as President Elect of Magnet Schools of the Mid South. This work is supported by an engaged School Board, Superintendent, and district leadership team committed to advancing high quality magnet programs.
Leadership within the Clark County School District (CCSD) is defined by collaboration, expertise, and a commitment to sustaining high-quality magnet programs. Guided by experienced leaders, CCSD ensures systemic improvements and the continued success of its magnet schools.
-CCSD is led by dynamic Superintendent Jhone Ebert, a former magnet educator and leader with extensive experience in magnet education.
-Deputy Superintendents Dr. Jesse Welsh and Felicia Gonzalez bring extensive leadership expertise in supporting and advancing magnet schools.
-Recognized for excellence, CCSD magnet leaders include the 2025 Nevada State Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year, awarded by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
-The recipient of the 2024 National Magnet Schools of America (MSA) Principal of the Year.
CCSD has held MSA’s Region II Director position for over 10 years.
-Magnet administrators collaborate to ensure that programs remain competitive, relevant, and robust.
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) demonstrates a strong record of leadership through strategic planning, high performing executive teams, and measurable gains in student outcomes. The district’s leadership structure, highlighted by its experienced executive cabinet, ensures clear direction, operational excellence, and a unified vision for student success.
OCPS leaders have advanced major initiatives aligned with the district’s strategic plan, including improvements in assessment systems, accountability measures, and long-term academic goals. Superintendent, Maria Vazquez has been honored a 2023 Don Quijote Award of Excellence and the 2023 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association for her innovative and effective uses of communication and technology.
The district’s leadership team also brings diverse expertise from state agencies, universities, and other school systems, strengthening OCPS’s capacity for innovation and continuous improvement. Together, these achievements underscore OCPS’s commitment to strong, visionary leadership that drives student and organizational success.
Clayton County Public Schools exemplifies leadership through its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community engagement. Guided by visionary leadership, we have fostered a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement that inspires both students and staff to reach their full potential. Our administrators prioritize transparent decision-making, ensuring every voice is valued in shaping our district’s future.
We have implemented cutting-edge programs that empower students to develop as leaders, such as peer mentoring, student government, and leadership academies. Our educators model strong leadership by integrating professional development and embracing best practices, elevating teaching quality and student outcomes.
Additionally, our district partners with local businesses, nonprofits, and higher education institutions to provide leadership opportunities beyond the classroom. These efforts have resulted in national recognition, increased student engagement, and a clear pathway to success for graduates. Our leadership-driven initiatives reflect our mission to prepare future leaders who will thrive in a dynamic world.
Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, both in the classroom and within the broader community. The district’s leadership initiatives emphasize innovation, collaboration, and student-centered growth. SCPS administrators and educators foster a culture of empowerment by offering professional development programs that strengthen leadership skills at all levels. The district has earned recognition for its efforts in creating pathways for students to develop leadership skills through student government, extracurricular activities, and leadership academies. SCPS also emphasizes diversity in its leadership training, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed and lead. The district’s exceptional leadership is evident in its continued academic excellence, high graduation rates, and successful implementation of cutting-edge technology and curriculum. Through ongoing mentorship and a commitment to fostering future leaders, Seminole County Public Schools has built a strong legacy of leadership that impacts students, staff, and the community.
Norwalk Public Schools demonstrates strong, coherent leadership through a shared vision, distributed responsibility, and sustained commitment to student success across its K–12 magnet continuum. District and school leaders align Kendall College and Career STEAM Academy, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, and P-TECH Norwalk around common goals for equity, academic excellence, and future readiness. Superintendent Dr. Alexandra Estrella, a first-generation Latina-American, provides visionary leadership grounded in educational equity and bilingual education and has been recognized with the 2025 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award, the 2023 NABE Ramón Santiago Award, and honors from the Connecticut Association of School Libraries. At the school level, Dr. Damon Lewis, principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, was named National Middle School Principal of the Year, exemplifying inclusive, student-centered leadership. Leaders invest in instructional coaching, improvement cycles, and leadership development. Anchored by the Portrait of a Graduate, leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and ownership among educators.
Huntsville City Schools demonstrates strong, forward-thinking leadership through a clear vision, strategic planning, and a commitment to continuous improvement. District leadership has guided progress through the Achieve 2029 strategic plan, aligning goals around academic excellence, student well-being, operational effectiveness, and community engagement. Leaders prioritize data-driven decision-making, ensuring resources and supports are targeted to meet student and school needs.
The district invests heavily in developing leaders at all levels, providing principals, assistant principals, and teacher leaders with ongoing professional learning focused on instructional leadership, collaboration, and accountability. Transparent communication and stakeholder engagement remain hallmarks of district leadership, with regular opportunities for families, staff, and community partners to provide input.
Huntsville City Schools leaders have also demonstrated resilience and adaptability, successfully navigating change while maintaining a focus on equity, innovation, and student success. Through consistent, collaborative leadership, the district continues to build trust, strengthen schools, and drive sustainable improvement for all learners.
Wichita Public Schools has lamented that in the past, adherence to a magnet theme tended to rise and fall with the interest/initiative of building leadership. To address this, WPS now supplements a Magnet Site Coordinator (MSC) position at all 23 of our magnet schools. MSC have been trained by district magnet personnel on the five pillars and attend a monthly PD with district-level magnet coaches. In most cases, MSC are also members of the building leadership team, which is critical given that it is their purpose to keep fidelity to theme in front of the principal as decisions are made.
WPS’ Magnet Department also has a substantial budget that it allocates to schools upon request for items or curricula that adheres to the theme. The MSC requests funding via a form and then district magnet coaches meet on a weekly basis with their bookkeeper to either approve or deny any new requests.
New London Public Schools demonstrates strong and effective leadership through a cohesive, districtwide magnet governance structure that aligns vision, operations, and accountability across all pathways. District and school leaders collaborate to ensure magnet goals for diversity, academic excellence, and innovation are embedded in budgeting, staffing, professional development, and enrollment management. Through regular monitoring of enrollment, racial isolation, and retention data, leadership teams use evidence-based decision-making to continuously improve program quality and compliance. Principals, magnet coordinators, and teacher leaders engage in ongoing training in instructional leadership, culturally responsive practices, and systems alignment to support high-quality implementation. Students are also developed as leaders through robotics, performing arts ensembles, the JROTC program, and student government, which cultivate responsibility, collaboration, and civic engagement. This shared leadership model ensures that magnet programs are not only well-managed, but strategically positioned to grow, adapt, and serve as engines of opportunity for the entire region.
Tangipahoa Parish School System (TPSS) demonstrates strong leadership through coordinated efforts at the district, school, and classroom levels to support high-quality magnet programming. District and school leaders provide a clear vision, strategic planning, and ongoing support to ensure magnet programs align with instructional priorities and student needs. Principals and leadership teams foster collaborative cultures focused on innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. These efforts create environments where students are encouraged to take on leadership roles through academic pathways, service learning, and school-based organizations. Magnet programs emphasize student voice, responsibility, and real-world application, helping learners develop confidence and leadership skills. The district also invests in leadership development for administrators and educators through professional learning, mentoring, and collaborative decision-making. By strengthening leadership capacity across the system and providing meaningful opportunities for student leadership, Tangipahoa Parish School System builds sustainable programs that prepare students to lead, contribute, and succeed beyond graduation.
Wake County Public School System‘s 2023 – 2028 Strategic Plan: Pathways to Excellence and Equity provides a unified vision and measurable goals, aligning central services, school leadership, and classroom practice toward equity and excellence for every student. Principals, Assistant Principals, and teacher-leaders use NCEES standards, data dashboards, and school improvement planning to monitor performance, address gaps, and align resource use with district priorities in all 203 school buildings. District leaders steward large-scale initiatives (school construction, program expansion, staff recruitment/retention, family engagement) with regular reporting and community engagement to ensure transparency and shared ownership.
Leadership in the School District of Palm Beach County extends beyond the principal’s office; it is embedded in the culture of every magnet school. The District’s dedicated Department of Choice and Career Options provides visionary oversight, ensuring fiscal responsibility and strategic growth of magnet themes. Leadership pipelines, such as the Aspiring Assistant Principals Program are specifically designed to equip future administrators with the skills to manage complex, theme-based schools. At the student level, leadership is cultivated through programs such as JROTC, Student Government, and career student organizations (ie. FBLA, HOSA), which are integral to magnet pathways. The District’s leaders actively participate in national forums, sharing best practices and influencing policy. By fostering leadership density—from the Superintendent’s commitment to choice down to student-led initiatives—SDPBC ensures the sustainability and continuous improvement of its world-class magnet portfolio.
Hillsborough County Public Schools cultivates strong, strategic leadership that drives the success of all magnet programs. Recently, a restructure of HCPS district leadership resulted in accelerated programs and magnet programs joining forces. The new structure ensures that each magnet program has a sustainable academic and instructional focus. The leadership meets with each school’s on-campus Magnet Lead monthly and engages them in continuous professional learning that emphasizes collaboration and the development of high performing thematic implementation. In between meetings, site visits are conducted to support Magnet Lead capacity and build strong relationships. Magnet Lead Teachers serve as an essential bridge who align theme-based instruction, coordinate stakeholder communication, and ensure fidelity to the magnet pillars across classrooms. By promoting collaboration and facilitating instructional implementation, Magnet Lead Teachers help sustain strong learning cultures and consistent expectations. These interconnected leadership structures ensure that HCPS magnet programs remain focused and supported.
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