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September 1, 2026
5 min (est.)
Vol. 84
No. 1
Optimistic Leadership

Optimistic Leadership: Adaptive by Design

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Photo of teens standing in a circle looking at their mobile phones.
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Teresa D. Hill, EdD, is an educational leader with more than 25 years of experience working with students, educators, and leaders. She has been the superintendent in South Holland, Illinois, since 2012. Hill started her career teaching a kindergarten class of 31 students in an urban school. She has also served as an assistant principal, a principal, and an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. She is the author of The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps: Five Keys for Improving Student Outcomes (ASCD, 2024).

Hill has devoted her career to combating achievement gaps. Her motto is "All children can learn . . . period." She has consulted with multiple school districts and presented at district, state, and national conferences across the United States, helping schools improve outcomes for underserved students.

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