Dr. Joshua Starr
Dr. Joshua P. Starr is a successful leader with experience in three sectors. He spent ten years as a Superintendent of Schools in two districts; Montgomery County, MD, the fifteenth largest in the country, and Stamford, CT. Dr. Starr’s leadership has always focused on equity and excellence. He has led collective efforts to ensure high quality instruction for every child, increase innovation, expand community engagement, activate student voice, increase teacher leadership, and support principals. Dr. Starr started his career in Brooklyn, NY, teaching Global Studies to adolescents labeled severely emotionally disturbed, and then became a system leader in districts in the New York metropolitan area, including New York City.
As a non-profit CEO at PDK International, Dr. Starr led the launch of the nation’s first career and technical education program to prepare high school students to become teachers. He also supported district leadership teams as they implemented research-based transformational equity and excellence initiatives. In the corporate sector, as the Managing Partner of the Center for Model Schools at HMH, Dr. Starr’s team supported leaders throughout the country in their school improvement efforts.
Dr. Starr’s desire to be Superintendent of Schools in Milwaukee is grounded in his lifelong commitment to service, equity, and excellence. His success as a superintendent and deep knowledge of the research and education landscape, coupled with his experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors, give him a unique skill set that well suits the challenges and opportunities facing Milwaukee.
Dr. Starr has won numerous awards, served on many boards, and has been a keynote speaker throughout his career. He’s a prolific author, having published numerous columns, op-eds, and book chapters. His book, “Equity Based Leadership,” is used by superintendents to guide their transformation efforts.
Dr. Starr, his wife, and daughter are alumni of UW-Madison, and his oldest son will graduate from there in 2025. Their youngest child is a high school junior. He has a Master’s in Special Education from Brooklyn College and a Doctorate from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.