Bill Runey says his journey to the superintendency began with a “love of people and a love of purpose” instilled in him by his parents, both of whom were public educators. Runey was 14 when his father died, and the large turnout for the funeral was evidence of the power of the man’s leadership, Runey notes.
“After that tragedy, my mother’s resilience taught me early on that success is measured by the positive impact that you have on the lives of others,” says Runey, who has been superintendent of Massachusetts’ Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District since 2022 and an educator for 37 years.
“Those lessons have shaped how I approach leadership, even to this day,” says Runey.