Superintendent

Dr. Michele Hancock

Dr. Michele Hancock is the 14th Superintendent of Schools of Kenosha Unified School
District. As Superintendent, Dr. Hancock oversees the third largest Wisconsin school district,
with a student population of over 23,000 and 42 schools.

Earlier this year, Dr. Hancock became the first recipient of the Annual Change Leader
Award presented by the National Principals Leadership Institute. The award recognizes an
educational leader who has facilitated significant change at the school and school district levels.
As Dr. Lew Smith, Executive Director of the National Principals Leadership Institute said,
“…Dr. Hancock has proven that ‘change’ is more than a slogan, deeper than a passing fad, and
marked by challenges and joy. Real change, significant change, transformational change requires
a Change Leader. Dr. Hancock exemplifies that leadership.”

After teaching in the Chicago Public School District for ten years, Dr. Hancock and her
family moved to Rochester, N.Y. where she began as a teacher. She then served as a teacher
leader, curriculum specialist, literacy specialist, assistant principal of a middle school and an
elementary school principal. In that position she lead the transformation of the lowest performing
K-6 elementary school to national prominence for culture change and student achievement. The
school was also included on the “New York State Most Improved” list. Dr. Hancock then
became chief of diversity and leadership/professional development and later chief of human
capital initiatives. In that position she was responsible for an eight million dollar human
resources budget.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of
Illinois, her Master’s Degree in Education from National Louis University, Administrative
Certificate from Oswego State University, and her Doctor of Education Degree in Executive
Leadership from St. John Fisher College in Rochester (NY).

She has presented at national conferences on topics such as “Preparing Urban Teacher
Leaders: Sustaining School Improvement”, “Effective Leadership for Urban Schools”, and
“What Successful Urban Elementary Schools Know and Do!”