This year, the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) selected 30 leaders from school systems across the United States for its 2025-26 Superintendents to Watch.
Among the list are three Chiefs for Change members:
- Andrea Castañeda, Salem-Keizer Public Schools (Ore.)
- Heather Tow-Yick, Issaquah School District (Wash.)
- Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia (Pa.)
The annual program recognizes innovative superintendents in their first five years for outstanding leadership in fostering meaningful, two-way communication and strengthening community engagement.
According to NSPRA, “this year’s honorees are shaping stronger school systems by recognizing communication as a core leadership priority and leading with clarity, consistency, and community connection. Across their districts, honorees led efforts ranging from launching student and family advisory councils and districtwide listening tours to modernizing websites, newsletters, and social media platforms to ensure timely, accessible communication for all families.”
Learn more about our outstanding members below:
Andrea Castañeda, Salem-Keizer Public Schools (Ore.)
Andrea Castañeda is the superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon, the state’s second-largest district, serving more than 40,000 students across 65 schools. Castañeda previously served as the chief innovation officer for Tulsa Public Schools. With more than 20 years in education leadership, and a decade of cabinet-level experience at the state and district levels, she has designed and implemented high-impact, system-level improvements in the areas of academics, operations, finance, talent, and innovation.
In a previous role at the Rhode Island Department of Education, Castañeda helped facilitate a statewide conversation about public education that engaged thousands of Rhode Islanders and resulted in a five-year strategic plan. Castañeda was a member of the first cohort of the Future Chiefs leadership development program.
Heather Tow-Yick, Issaquah School District (Wash.)
Heather Tow-Yick has served as superintendent of the Issaquah School District near Seattle, Washington. She previously served as deputy superintendent of the Mukilteo School District, also in Washington. Prior to Mukilteo, Tow-Yick served as the CEO’s chief of staff at Teach For America and launched the organization’s work in Rhode Island. Her experience also includes roles as chief transformation officer and chief of staff for Providence Public Schools, consultant at the Bridgespan Group, and special assistant to former New York City Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein. She began her career as a middle school English teacher in the Bronx.
Tony B. Watlington Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia (Pa.)
Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr. has served as the superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia since June 2022, the nation’s eighth-largest school district, with nearly 200,000 students. Under his leadership, the district outpaces other large urban districts nationwide and similar districts in Pennsylvania in math and reading in grades 3-8. A first-generation college graduate and a champion for equity, Dr. Watlington is committed to building collaborative school and community teams that are accountable for creating life-changing opportunities for all children while significantly reducing achievement and opportunity gaps.
Watlington began his career as a history teacher in Guilford County, NC, in 1994 and was named the district Teacher of the Year in 1998. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Dr. Watlington was honored as the North Carolina PTA Administrator of the Year in 2014. He received the Communities-in-Schools (CIS) Champion’s Cup and the Business Leaders Movers and Shakers Award. He serves on numerous boards, including the Board of Community Behavioral Health, and he previously served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Public School Forum.
