Blane McCann

Blane McCann

Blane McCann, PhD, is the superintendent of Westside Community Schools in Omaha, Nebraska. He is also the former superintendent of the School District of Shorewood in Shorewood, Wisconsin. Dr. McCann led cost-effective strategic planning efforts in both districts, resulting in a clear direction for staff and community members.

Previously, Dr. McCann has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and elementary and middle school principal, as well as executive director for K–8 instruction. His educational experiences include working in predominantly low-income minority schools as well as affluent, high-performing school districts in the United States. He has also taught leadership courses at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As superintendent, his initiatives around personalized learning, professional learning, and integration of technology allowed each district to close achievement gaps while maintaining excellence. Dr. McCann focuses his leadership on strategic planning and aligning the work of a school district to benefit all students. He has received numerous awards, including Phi Delta Kappa University of Omaha Educator of the Year (2017), Lexington Institute Leadership Award Fellow (2015), Future Ready Superintendent White House Participant (2014), and Kenosha Unified School District Administrator of the Year (2001).

Dr. McCann received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and a PhD in education policy and leadership from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.