Superintendent

Ames CSD Superintendent, Dr. Julious Lawson

At the Ames Community School District, we are committed to equity and access that empowers every individual to reach their full personal and educational potential.

Superintendent’s Role

Works with School Board to lead the District in fulfilling its mission to students for teaching and learning, and in meeting the Board’s strategic, legal and policy requirements.

Presents District Operating Budget to the School Board.
Directs, monitors and evaluates administrators.
Engages collaboratively with the community.
Oversees personnel functions.

On Monday, January 24, 2022, the Ames School Board of Directors approved Dr. Julious Lawson as the next Superintendent of Ames Community School District. Dr. Lawson is the 28th superintendent of Ames Public Schools.

About The Superintendent

The Ames Community School District welcomed Dr. Julious Lawson as Superintendent on July 1, 2022. Dr. Lawson was previously the Chief of Schools for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), a position he held since 2018. As Chief of Schools, Dr. Lawson was responsible for the oversight and direction of elementary operations for the third-largest school district in the United States. This includes 27 CPS schools including 9,000 students, over 900 teachers and staff, with a $64 million operating budget. He facilitated the system-wide implementation of school improvement strategies that are designed to optimize academic achievement with a focus on equitable access for students. Dr. Lawson was also instrumental in strategic planning and assessing individualized Leadership Development Plans to further promote best teaching practices.

Under his leadership, student attendance rates were maintained during the pandemic in one of the most challenging communities in Chicago. He was also integral in decreasing behavior referrals that led to out-of-school suspension and expulsions.

Ames School Board President Sabrina Shields-Cook said, “Dr. Lawson is an accomplished educational leader with a passion for student success and a dedication to working alongside teachers to improve outcomes for diverse learners. His background and expertise match the desired characteristics our community expressed they want in our next superintendent. He is a servant leader, a unifier, and a skilled communicator. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to Ames.”

Prior to his current role, Dr. Lawson held a variety of additional leadership positions with Chicago Public Schools including Deputy Chief of Schools, as well as building leadership positions. He was also an adjunct professor at National Louis University where he was responsible for coaching doctoral candidates in the school administration leadership program.

Dr. Lawson earned his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in Chicago. He is also on the Chicago State University College of Education Advisory Board. A few of Dr. Lawson’s past honors include being the recipient of the 2021 Men of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender, and the Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s Principal Achievement Award. Dr. Lawson is also active in presenting at national educational leadership conferences. Recent presentations included the development of school culture, early engagement to motivate post-secondary aspirations, K-12/Community College partnerships, and connecting Black males through high expectations.

Dr. Lawson noted that leading the Ames School District is an amazing professional opportunity and one that made him reflect on a quote from John Buchan; “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.”