# Jill Underly

Jill Katherine Underly (born August 2, 1977) is an American educator and school system administrator from Iowa County, Wisconsin. She is the superintendent of public instruction of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, elected in the 2021 general election. She previously served as an assistant director in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and served as superintendent of the Pecatonica Area School District.

## Early life and career

Underly grew up in northwest Indiana, outside Chicago. She earned her bachelor's degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1999, with a double-major in history and sociology. After earning her degree, she went to work as a high school social studies teacher at Frankfort High School and Munster High School, in Frankfort and Munster, Indiana, respectively. While teaching, she pursued further education, and, in 2004, received her first master's degree in secondary education curriculum and instruction from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
In 2005, Underly moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she continued her education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and worked on the staff for Undergraduate Academic Services in the College of Letters & Sciences. In 2008, she earned her second master's degree and licensure in educational administration. In 2009, Underly was hired by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as an assistant director and education consultant, where she remained until 2014. During these years, she continued her education at the University of Wisconsin, and, in 2012, earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis.
In 2014, Underly moved to Hollandale, Wisconsin, to become principal of Pecatonica Elementary School. The following year, the Pecatonica Area School Board selected her as school district administrator. During her term, Underly was outspoken for the interests of rural school districts.

## Superintendent of public instruction

In May 2020, following the announcement that incumbent State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor would not seek election to a full four-year term, Underly announced her candidacy for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Underly topped a field of seven candidates in the February 2021 nonpartisan primary, and went on to defeat former Brown Deer superintendent Deborah Kerr in the April general election. Underly received the endorsements of retired Republican state senator Dale Schultz, Democratic U.S. senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. representatives Ron Kind, Gwen Moore, and Mark Pocan, former Governor Jim Doyle, and nearly every Democrat in the Wisconsin Legislature. Her opponent, a proponent of voucher school expansion, was endorsed by former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Democratic state senator Lena Taylor.

## Personal life and family

Underly and her husband John live in Hollandale, Wisconsin; they have two children.

## Electoral history

2021 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Nonpartisan Primary, February 16, 2021 |||||
| | Nonpartisan | Jill Underly | 88,796 | 27.23% |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Kerr | 86,174 | 26.43% |
| | Nonpartisan | Sheila Briggs | 50,815 | 15.58% |
| | Nonpartisan | Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams | 36,850 | 11.30% |
| | Nonpartisan | Troy Gunderson | 27,452 | 8.42% |
| | Nonpartisan | Steve Krull | 20,543 | 6.30% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joe Fenrick | 14,507 | 4.45% |
| | Nonpartisan | Scattering | 937 | 0.29% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 326,074 | 100.0% |
| General Election, April 6, 2021 |||||
| | Nonpartisan | Jill Underly | 526,444 | 57.57% |
| | Nonpartisan | Deborah Kerr | 386,570 | 42.27% |
| | Nonpartisan | Scattering | 1,420 | 0.16% |
| Plurality | Plurality | Plurality | 139,874 | 15.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 914,434 | 100.0% |