The Award Honors PK–12 Public School Leaders Successfully Championing Learning for All Students
On Friday evening, Dr. Anthony S. Lewis, Superintendent of Durham Public Schools in Durham, North Carolina, was named the 2026 recipient of the Open Up Resources Leading with Excellence Award.
The Open Up Resources Leading with Excellence Award is an annual recognition bestowed upon one PK–12 public school leader who is successfully championing high-quality learning experiences for all students at the district and national levels. Previous recipients include Superintendents Luvelle Brown (2025), Katrise Perera (2024), Carlton Jenkins (2023), and Mark Bedell (2022).
Dr. Lewis was recognized for his unwavering commitment to educational equity, student achievement, and systems-level leadership that delivers measurable outcomes for all students.
“Dr. Lewis is a visionary leader whose clarity of purpose and tireless commitment to student success have already strengthened Durham Public Schools in remarkable ways,” said Jason Isaacs, CEO of Open Up Resources. “Under his leadership the district has accelerated academic growth, elevated expectations, and built momentum toward the strategic goals of higher achievement, operational excellence and outstanding opportunities for every learner. His work continues to raise the bar for what’s possible for students, educators and the whole community.”
“I am honored to be recognized by Open Up Resources and certainly stand in solidarity with its mission to empower all students to achieve their fullest potential,” said honoree, Dr. Lewis. “As a superintendent, it is extremely important to me that we improve learning outcomes for our scholars by ensuring that they are surrounded by excellence from the moment they begin their school day. That includes excellence in instructional materials. When we invest in educators with high-quality representative materials, digital supports, and professional learning, we invest in scholars. We may not have total control over their home lives, but if our bus drivers, custodians, school nutrition professionals, teachers, administrators, and support staff all ascribe to the same vision that every scholar deserves an excellent Durham Public Schools advocate, we’re halfway there. We must be committed to igniting the limitless potential of every scholar. My job is to forge that path and to inspire those who are responsible for student achievement–and that means all of us.”
Isaacs presented the award to Dr. Lewis at the 5th Annual Leading with Excellence gathering, hosted by Open Up Resources, in conjunction with the annual conference of AASA (The School Superintendents Association).
About Dr. Anthony S. Lewis
Dr. Anthony S. Lewis joined Durham Public Schools as Superintendent in August 2024. A seasoned educational leader, Dr. Lewis has dedicated his entire professional career to public education and is passionate about achievement for all students.
He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees in Special Education, along with a Certificate in Educational Leadership, all from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. He furthered his expertise by completing the Instructional Leadership Academy at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. His commitment to education led him to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
Dr. Lewis began his educational career as a high school Special Education Teacher in Montgomery, Alabama. His dedication and talent saw him rise to become the principal of a high-poverty, high-performing elementary school, achieving remarkable results. His exceptional track record in Alabama caught the attention of the Kansas City, Missouri School District, where he served in key roles, including Principal, Director of Elementary Schools, and Assistant Superintendent. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in guiding the district towards full accreditation after nearly three decades.
In recognition of his leadership potential, Dr. Lewis was selected for and completed the American Association of School Administrators (AASA)/The School Superintendents Association’s Urban Superintendents Academy in partnership with Howard University in 2017.
In January 2018, Dr. Lewis was unanimously approved by the Lawrence Public Schools School Board to become the ninth and first Black Superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. Lawrence Public Schools is the seventh-largest school district in the state, the second-largest employer in the city, and serves nearly 12,000 students, supported by a dedicated staff of 1,800 across 23 schools. During his tenure, the district crafted its first-ever Equity Policy, aiming to advance educational equity through systemic changes in school governance and resource allocation. In just five years, graduation rates increased across all subgroups: White: 82.9% to 90.4%; African American: 76.6% to 89.8%; American Indian/Alaska Native: 84.6% to 89.3%; Hispanic: 71.4% to 83.7%.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dr. Lewis to the Kansas African American Affairs Commission in November 2019, where he helps develop strategies to address public policy concerns within the African American community and fosters partnerships with state agencies, corporations, and foundations. Additionally, he is actively involved in programs, grants, and research. In June 2020, Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dr. Lewis to the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice, tasking him with studying and addressing issues of racial equity and justice in Kansas, with a particular emphasis on law enforcement-community relations.
Dr. Lewis’s outstanding leadership earned him recognition as one of the National School Public Relations Association’s “Superintendents to Watch” in September 2020. This prestigious accolade acknowledges his dynamic and fast-paced leadership, effective communication, and innovative use of technology to engage and inform school communities.
Dr. Lewis hails from Talladega, Alabama. He and his wife Tiffany are the proud parents of six children. In his spare time, Dr. Lewis enjoys serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Kansas in the School of Education and Human Sciences. He also cherishes quality family time, indulges in reading, and is mastering the bass guitar.
To learn more about Open Up Resources’ mission and work, visit openupresources.org.