Darin Brawley, 2026 Prize Winner

When Darin Brawley became superintendent of Compton Unified School District in 2012, the district faced significant academic challenges. A former classroom teacher who rose through the ranks of public education, Brawley has spent more than a decade leading one of the nation's most notable examples of sustained district improvement. Under his leadership, graduation rates rose from 58 percent to 94 percent, while college acceptance rates climbed above 95 percent, expanding opportunities in a high-poverty district serving predominantly Black and Latino students, many from immigrant families.

Brawley's success rests not on a single initiative but on years of student-centered work to find better ways to help students learn and thrive. Along the way, he sought advice from Silicon Valley leaders, earned a doctorate in educational leadership, and made strategic use of school funding to strengthen instruction, expand pathways to college and careers, and build a culture of high expectations. Nationally recognized career academies, industry partnerships, and innovative tutoring programs have helped connect students with opportunities inside and outside the classroom. At a time when many districts have struggled simply to regain lost ground, Compton Unified has continued to advance.