(On MMSD students of a different race, language or ability - May 6, 2008)
"I admit that I get discouraged when someone in our community talks about 'those kids'. 'Those kids' are our kids - every single one of them."

(On developing relationships - April 15, 2008)
"If you burn a bunch of bridges and then have to go back the other way, you'll have to swim across the river."

(Why do we have to do this? — April 20, 2007)
"It's the law. If we didn't have laws, we could do lots of things."

(On a new initiative - November 29, 2006)
"I've been told I have a secret agenda for this. Well, it's so secret I don't even know what it is."

(August 25, 2005)
"If one of our schools is a failure, it's a failure for all of us."

(August 17, 2005)
"Great cities have great school districts."

(On pedagogy - September 15, 2004) "We can't get hung up on philosophy. We have to get hung up on students."

(September 29, 2003)
"It will be unacceptable in this school district to have anything but a positive, supportive relationship with every single child. That's our goal. That's our responsibility."

(On many occasions)
"Madison schools don't belong to teachers, principals, administrators or the Superintendent; they belong to the community."

(On many occasions)
"We're the best damn school district in the country."

ACT Scores story

A Conversation with Art Rainwater (60 min.)

School News Weekly: Superintendent Reflects on School Funding

Editor's note: You might have noticed that there are few pictures of Supt. Rainwater with students. Here's why: "I chose not to have a photographer or a TV camera present at any time when I visited schools or classes. Schools are about kids — not publicity."