An Interview with Verona Superintendent Dr. Tremayne Clardy: Recognized as The Best (Part 1 of 2)
Dr. Tremayne Clardy was named 2026 Superintendent of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators
by Jonathan Gramling
When Dr. Tremayne Clardy became superintendent of the Verona Area School District, he brought a youthful enthusiasm to the job. Now going into his sixth year as superintendent, Clardy hasn’t lost that enthusiasm.
Clardy is a down-to-earth administrator who values the people around him. It isn’t his school district. It is the community’s and his role is to help each staff person bring their best self to the job every day. Verona is concerned about the health and well-being of its students and staff. While the building on W. Main Street used to be devoted to the school district’s administration, the lower floor now houses a mental health clinic for those in need.
While technically Clardy gets some time off during the summer, the school district is not far off in his thoughts.
“The summer gives me a lot of time to reflect,” Clardy said. “The pace is different. And it allows me to think about leadership and the bigger picture and what it means for us to take it to the next level of our journey for the Verona Area School District. This year, we have a Convocation on August 24th. Our theme this year Fulfillment of the Promise of Public Education. And we will focus on the actions that we are going to be doing to make that come to life.”
As the superintendent, Clardy brings a form of community organizer approach to his job. He is there to facilitate the efforts of others.
“As superintendents, we’re nothing without our staff,” Clardy emphasized. “When you think about being a manager and the valuable work that we do, our staff are great educators from different professions and also have great skills. But they are also great human beings. We try to hire that way. Before the bulk of my time here, there were already great ones here. Really, I am in a position to bring their best work to life. That partnership has really allowed the Verona Area School District to flourish. It has allowed us to change the outcomes for some of our students. You should want to invest in the people who are supporting our community.”
And staff again, are not there to serve the vision of the superintendent. The superintendent is there to serve them as they all keep their eye on the prize: success for all Verona students.
“I don’t believe in hierarchy,” Clardy emphasized. “While I have the title of superintendent and on the org chart it is a hierarchy, But in reality, you are in service to others and you are serving the people around you. I tell, people that my job is to serve them so that they can do their job better. Our org chart is inverted. We promote our inverted pyramid as the way that we go. And I sit on the bottom of that pyramid because it’s my job to take in all the information and learn from those who are doing the work. I study that information and provide action steps based on what will help people do a great job.”
And it is Clardy’s approach to his work and relation to the staff and students that earned him 2026 Superintendent of the Year honors bestowed by his peers, the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators.
“Dr. Clardy is being recognized for his exceptional leadership in advancing educational equity, fostering community engagement, and improving student outcomes,” the association said. “Since joining the Verona Area School District in 2021, he has guided its schools through a period of significant growth, innovation, and success. With Dr. Clardy's leadership, the district has become known statewide for removing barriers to learning and fostering a strong sense of belonging to prepare learners to thrive in a diverse global society. Through a focus on data-driven improvement, equitable resource allocation, and consistent communication with families and staff, the district has seen measurable gains in student achievement. Overall graduation rates, Advanced Placement participation, and attendance have all surpassed state averages.”
I got away a couple of times this summer. My wife and I went to Denver. It was business. I also did some work in Washington, D.C., but we got away to do some things as well.