Boise, ID -- 01/29/2026 -- The Boise School District Board of Trustees has taken a significant step in its leadership transition by voting to offer Wendy Johnson, the District’s current Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, the position of Superintendent. Johnson has accepted the offer.
The action followed an executive-session interview conducted during a special Board meeting on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The interview was part of a process initiated earlier in the month after the Board formally accepted the retirement of Superintendent Lisa Roberts.
Johnson will begin serving as Superintendent on July 1, 2026. Roberts will continue to serve as Superintendent through June 30, 2026, at which time she will retire.
“I am deeply grateful to the Board of Trustees for their trust and confidence, and for the opportunity to continue serving the Boise community,” Johnson said. “We have an incredibly strong team of educators and leaders in place, and together we are focused on what matters most—our students. Public schools are the heart of strong neighborhoods, and when our community invests in them, we create opportunity for every child and a stronger future for Boise.”
At a January 21, 2026 special meeting, trustees voted to interview Johnson, citing the District’s commitment to leadership development and the depth of experience within its administrative leadership team.
“Wendy has been an integral part of our district’s leadership team and has earned the trust of the Board, staff, and community,” said Boise School Board President Dave Wagers. “She understands our students, our teachers, and our schools, and the Board has great confidence in her ability to lead going forward. Strong public schools are essential to our community’s quality of life and our collective future, and Wendy is deeply committed to ensuring every student has access to a comprehensive and nationally recognized public school education.”
Johnson brings more than three decades of experience in public education, having served Idaho students since 1994 as a classroom teacher and administrator. Her career includes 11 years as Superintendent of the Kuna School District from 2013 to 2024, where she led efforts focused on early learning, academic achievement, pathways for students and community engagement.
In her current role as Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Johnson oversees instructional programs, curriculum, assessment, and initiatives designed to improve student outcomes across the district. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and partnerships among educators, families, and community stakeholders.
The Board also considered interviewing Deputy Superintendent of Operations Nick Smith. Smith respectfully declined consideration, noting that while leading the district would be an honor and a future aspiration, his current focus is on remaining actively involved in the lives of his three young children.