This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new Education Reporter. Find more of Lia’s reporting here. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@linknky.com.
Dayton Independent Schools Superintendent Rick Wolf owns mostly green sneakers. And in the last couple years he’s noticed more students wearing district-colored kicks, too.
It’s a good sign that he’s building connection with what he believes is one of the biggest parts of the job: students and families.
“It’s about building pride where you’re from,” he told LINK nky.
Wolf, who grew up in Hamilton County, said he’s still involved with his high school alma mater.
“I want our kids to feel the same way,” he said.
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Wolf, entering his 27th year at Dayton, was never shooting for a superintendent job. Rather, he wanted to continue serving the district through the work his friend, outgoing Superintendent Jay Brewer started during his 12-year tenure.
“Things were going in the right direction,” he said.
Wolf started as a middle school English teacher in 2000, rising into various leadership positions from athletic director to principal of Dayton High School. He took the superintendent position in 2024.
Wolf knows there’s still work to do to concerning attendance and other standards, but he’s proud of the district’s improved academic outcomes, recently completed Green Devil Stadium and higher levels of family engagement.
The district’s three family engagement days throughout the year had roughly 80% to 85% attendance last school year, Wolf said. This year he wants to continue bringing up that number closer to 100%.
He values the district’s small size, which allows him to know every student’s name and the majority of parents.
Wolf’s sneakers aren’t just because he’s a fitness fanatic and coached his two daughters’ middle school basketball teams. The intentional dressed down look is part of the Dayton culture he aims to create.
“You know how many kids I relate to just by wearing sneakers?” he said laughing.
He recalled meeting one of the district’s new hires last week, who he didn’t recognize.
“I know you,” she told Wolf. “You knew my daughter’s name in preschool.”
He said it’s always an honor to realize the amount of influence that educators and superintendents can have.
“I’m dad to Maddie and Miley, I’m husband to Jen. I’m not different than any other human being on planet Earth, but people don’t always see it that way,” he said.
“And I’m not taking that for granted,” he said.
