Gennaro Piraino Jr. is the superintendent of the Franklin Regional School District. For more than a decade, he has transformed a high-performing school system into a national model for forward-looking, student-centered education. As a 2025 Yass Prize Semifinalist, Franklin Regional School District is redesigning the traditional model by embedding college credit, career pathways, and real-world experience into the journey of every student with a clear focus on life readiness. Under his leadership, the district was designated a National Lighthouse School District. He is building a system in which students graduate with career direction, practical skills, and a measurable postsecondary advantage. Central to this work are Advanced Career Pathways and Academies aligned to in-demand fields including healthcare and technology, supported through strong local, regional, state, and national partnerships. Piraino serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association of School Administrators and is a former president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. He is the 2019 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year and 2018 Westmoreland Chamber Member of the Year