Dalton, GA ā Dalton Public Schools is proud to announce that Superintendent Dr. Steven Craft has been named one of the National School Public Relations Associationās (NSPRA) 2025ā26 Superintendents to Watch, a national honor recognizing exemplary leadership rooted in strong, two-way communication and community engagement.
Dr. Craft leads Dalton Public Schools with a communication-centered leadership style grounded in clarity, trust, and connection. In fewer than five years as superintendent, he has guided the district through growth and change while anchoring every decision in the districtās shared call to Learn, Lead, and Succeed and its five core commitments: Safety and Security, Culture, Standards-Based Tier 1 Instruction, Literacy, and Customer Service.
āDr. Craft has led Dalton Public Schools through transformative growth with a calm, steady hand and a visionary mindset,ā said the Dalton Public Schools Communications Team. āHis leadership is defined by collaboration, clarity, and a belief that the best schools are built on trust, communication, and community.ā
Building a Shared Identity Through Communication
Under Dr. Craftās leadership, Dalton Public Schools launched a new district brand in July 2025, including a refreshed mission, vision, tagline, and logo designed to unify the district under one cohesive message. Through intentional communication, storytelling, and collaboration, he ensured that every employeeāfrom teachers to transportation staffāunderstood and embraced the āwhyā behind the work. The result has been a strong sense of shared identity and purpose that continues to resonate throughout the district.
Recognizing early in his tenure that clear and consistent communication is essential to building trust with families, staff, and the broader community, Dr. Craft strategically expanded the districtās communications department from two to three team members. This investment strengthened the districtās capacity to communicate with excellence across multiple platforms and reflects his belief that communication is not an auxiliary function, but a leadership priority.
Key communication initiatives under Dr. Craftās leadership include:
A redesigned district website and mobile app expanding access to calendars, notifications, menus, and school news
A multimedia rollout of the districtās mission, vision, and commitments using video messages, newsletters, social media, and print materials
An emphasis on two-way communication through advisory councils, surveys, and listening sessions
These efforts produced immediate and measurable outcomes. Families reported greater clarity around district goals, staff expressed renewed pride in representing Dalton Public Schools, and community engagement with district content increased significantly across all communication channels.
Making Communication the Strategy
Dr. Craft has embedded communication directly into Dalton Public Schoolsā strategic framework, aligning district goals with its five core commitments and reinforcing those priorities consistently across audiences and platforms. To ensure communication remains a two-way process, he established multiple feedback systems that place listening at the center of leadership.
Student, teacher, and parent advisory councils meet regularly with Dr. Craft to provide direct input on district priorities, while the Culture and Climate Committee supports ongoing assessment and improvement of school environments. These structures ensure communication flows both waysālistening before leading.
Dr. Craftās commitment to transparency is evident in his approach to public engagement. He leads Board of Education presentations with clarity and openness, hosts an annual State of the Schools address, and regularly speaks at community events such as Leadership Dalton-Whitfield and the Chamber of Commerceās State of Education.
āWhat sets Dr. Craft apart is his authenticity,ā said Aubrey Poppel, Apex Program Director for the Cyber Academy at Dalton Public Schools. āHe doesnāt just listen to replyāhe listens to understand. His openness has built a culture of trust that gives leaders like me the confidence to take risks and innovate for our students.ā
Leading With Visibility and Care
Dr. Craft is a highly visible and accessible leader across Dalton Public Schools. He attends school and community events, hosts Superintendent Breakfasts to connect with employees, and maintains an open-door policy that includes sharing his personal cell phone number with staff, parents, and community members.
Internally, he models consistent and inspiring communication. Each year, he opens District Convocation by speaking directly to employees about the mission, vision, and commitments, connecting every role to the districtās shared purpose. He also leads an annual Leadership Symposium for administrators and launched a Superintendent Video Series to ensure staff hear major updates directly from him before districtwide releases.
āHe leads with a team-first, people-first, communication-first philosophy that has reshaped the way Dalton Public Schools operates,ā said Nick Sun, Deputy Superintendent of Dalton Public Schools.
National Recognition
The NSPRA Superintendents to Watch program recognizes school district leaders with fewer than five years of experience as superintendent who demonstrate dynamic leadership with communication at its core. For the 2025ā26 school year, 30 superintendents from across the United States were selected for the honor.
According to NSPRA, this yearās honorees are strengthening school systems by prioritizing communication as a leadership strategy. Their work includes launching advisory councils, conducting districtwide listening tours, and modernizing websites, newsletters, and social media platforms to ensure timely, accessible communication for all families.
Dr. Craftās recognition reflects the progress Dalton Public Schools has made in strengthening communication, alignment, and connection across the districtāand its continued commitment to serving students, families, and the community with transparency and trust.
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