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.
The North Star of Runey’s leadership is the district’s “Driving Toward 2030” strategic plan, implemented in 2024 and rooted in staff empowerment and igniting student curiosity and learning. Its five pillars are:
- Safe and healthy learning environments
- Curriculum, instruction and learning outcomes
- Expanded learning opportunities
- Community engagement
- Funding and facilities
“What we’re looking to do now is follow the concept of acceleration,” Runey says. “We’re going to continue to align our curriculum and instruction to deepen student engagement and try to prepare every student for whatever their next pathway is.”
‘Our best public relations people’
Retaining students through high school is a major focus in a regional school district. Because students have other educational options—such as private schools and regional vocational-technical high schools with newer facilities—Runey and his team have been expanding early college partnerships and adding more innovative career pathways and hands-on learning opportunities.
“Internally, I want to keep developing and strengthening our leadership pipeline,” Runey continues. “We have a lot of talented people in the district who are emerging leaders that I can carry out that three-pronged approach of empowering staff and igniting curiosity and learning to shape the future.”
One key to retention is marketing the district’s comprehensive high school as a place where “there is something for everyone,” including an early college program and a full range of Advanced Placement and college prep classes. Dighton-Rehoboth also fields competitive athletic teams and a nationally recognized theater program.
A significant portion of marketing is conducted on social media—Instagram for students and Facebook for parents and other adults. Dighton-Rehoboth’s web hosting platform allows the district to create a post on Instagram, Facebook and the district website with a “couple of keystrokes,” Runey says.
But Runey calls his high school students “our best public relations people.”
“We took our juniors and seniors who are really passionate about their experience at our high school out into both of our middle schools and allowed them to provide their testimonials about why they love our high school,” he explains.
The district also does a “CTE Roadshow” in the spring. Vocational teachers and students set up interactive displays at the middle schools so the younger students can get some hands-on experiences, such as changing lug nuts on a tire or working with robotic infants used in the early-childhood education program.
A bowling ball in a puddle
Runey grounds his leadership philosophy in relationships, clarity and consistency. “I’ve learned over the years that trust isn’t built in a single moment,” he says. “It’s earned through several small actions over the course of time. So I try to personalize my relationship with as many of our staff members as possible.”
Educators perform best when they feel seen, supported and part of a shared purpose. A culture of positivity, open communication and confidence-building is key to overcoming the inevitable challenges a public school district faces, he adds.
“When something negative happens, it’s like throwing a pebble into a lake. It has a ripple effect, but it’s not a significant impact,” he concludes. “If you don’t build a culture of positivity, when something negative happens, it’s like dropping a bowling ball into a puddle. It has a massive effect.”
Leaders in Action: This superintendent relies on those ‘who make it happen’
