We are Home
La Crosse

La Crosse Superintendent Named State's Best

Families with children in La Crosse Public Schools can track the district's leadership as Aaron Engel receives a statewide honor in January 2027.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Administration

Wide winter landscape of bare trees on a wooded bluff above a slow-moving river with light mist rising from the water.
Wisconsin's association of school administrators named La Crosse Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Engel 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year, to be presented January 20. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think public schools in your area are getting better?

The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators named Aaron Engel 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year. Engel leads La Crosse Public Schools, where he has served since 2020, and the award will be presented at a WASDA convention on January 20, 2027.

Why it matters

The honor recognizes leadership, dedication to student success, and efforts to strengthen educational opportunities for all students in La Crosse, which matters for families whose children attend the district's schools. The selection was announced by the state administrators' association, giving local families a statewide benchmark for the district's direction.

The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators named Aaron Engel the 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year on November 3, 2026. The award will be presented during the WASDA convention on January 20, 2027.

The players

Aaron Engel

Superintendent of La Crosse Public Schools since 2020, recognized as the 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year.

Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA)

Statewide association of school district administrators that selects and honors Wisconsin's superintendents.

Damian LaCroix

Executive Director of WASDA who praised Engel's leadership and his impact on the La Crosse community.

The details

WASDA selected Engel for the honor, which recognizes his leadership and dedication to student success. WASDA Executive Director Damian LaCroix said the selection reflects Engel's leadership and positive impact on the La Crosse community. The La Crosse School District issued a press release announcing the award.

Timeline

  1. 2020: Engel began serving as La Crosse Public Schools superintendent.

  2. November 3, 2026: WASDA named Engel 2027 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year.

  3. January 20, 2027: Engel receives the award at the WASDA convention.

The Home Front

Statewide recognition of a single district leader places La Crosse's school system within WASDA's annual Superintendent of the Year program, which honors one administrator each year. For households weighing where to live, a district whose leader earns a state-level honor is one data point alongside enrollment, boundaries, and school ratings.

If your child attends La Crosse Public Schools, the district's leadership direction is worth following through school communications and board meetings. Families planning a move should review district boundaries and enrollment information directly with the district before deciding.

The takeaway

Leadership recognition like this is one signal families can track when evaluating a school district. Keep the La Crosse Public Schools contact information on hand so you can ask about programs and priorities directly.

What happens next

The award will be formally presented to Engel at the WASDA convention on January 20, 2027.

Further reading

For more on how district leadership shapes local schools, explore Administration coverage on We are Home.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Weau.

Live Poll

Do you think public schools in your area are getting better?