Former APS Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Herring, Poised to Redefine What Educational Leadership Looks Like

In an era when America’s schools are fighting to recover learning losses, rebuild trust, and reimagine the role of technology in classrooms, Dr. Lisa Herring’s appointment as CEO of New Leaders signals more than just a leadership change — it represents a philosophical pivot toward innovation with equity at its core.

The former Atlanta Public Schools superintendent, known for leading one of the nation’s most visible urban districts through pandemic-era challenges, now takes the helm of a national nonprofit whose mission has quietly expanded from training principals to reengineering the pipeline of educational leadership itself.

For Herring, the work ahead isn’t about returning to “normal.” It’s about creating a new standard.“We are at a defining point in public education,” Herring said. “The challenges before us demand bold solutions and unwavering leadership.”

Her career has always straddled two worlds — systems and innovation. In Atlanta, she delivered the district’s highest-ever graduation rate and national recognition for academic gains. At the PROPEL Center, she championed digital equity and creative technologies in higher education. Now, at New Leaders, she steps into a role that combines both: equipping educators to lead change from within their schools while connecting them to broader movements reshaping education nationwide.

A Moment Tailor-Made for Her Skill Set

Today’s education landscape is defined by disruption: teacher shortages, burnout, AI’s classroom arrival, and deep inequities made worse by funding gaps. Herring’s unique blend of classroom experience, district-level leadership, and national policy influence may make her one of the few figures capable of translating these challenges into actionable reform.

New Leaders Chair and Boeing executive Ted Colbert underscored that point, noting that Herring’s “willingness to challenge conventional thinking” is precisely what the moment requires.

From Principals to Systems Builders

Since its founding in 2001, New Leaders has evolved from a program focused on principal preparation to a broader mission — one that sees educators as systems builders, not just school managers. Herring’s arrival is expected to accelerate this evolution. Under her leadership, the organization plans to expand its Aspiring Teachers Accelerator and National Aspiring Principals Fellowship, while embedding leadership development in every stage of an educator’s career.

Reimagining Leadership for a New Generation

For Herring, this next chapter is personal. It’s about restoring faith in public education and empowering the next wave of leaders to approach their work with both heart and strategy. Her message to educators is clear: leadership isn’t positional — it’s transformational.“I have seen firsthand how innovative leaders can transform entire communities,” Herring said. “At New Lea ders, I am energized to build on this legacy and champion the kind of leadership that ensures every child has access to thriving schools and limitless opportunities.”

As classrooms across America continue to evolve, Herring’s appointment offers something the sector urgently needs — not just stability, but visionary direction. Her tenure could well define what the next decade of educational leadership looks like: data-informed, community-driven, and unafraid to rethink the very systems it seeks to serve.