About Jill

Dr. Jill Underly knew she wanted to be a teacher way back in 1986, when she was in the 3rd grade. She was inspired by the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, as well as her own teachers throughout elementary and middle school. Throughout high school she worked in a family daycare and volunteered on the pediatrics floor of the local hospital. As soon as she was able, she began substitute teaching in elementary and middle school settings.

Jill’s first teaching job started the week after she finished student teaching, and was at a large comprehensive rural high school where she taught U.S. History, Government, Sociology, and Midwestern History. She also taught alongside the English Language Learner teacher and worked with students who were the children of migrant farmers from Mexico. There were many tomato fields in the area and a large cannery nearby. While teaching in her first few years, she was named department chair of the social studies department, started the high school girls’ softball team, and she was one of the sponsors of the National Honor Society. She also was her teacher’s association vice president.

Since 1999, Dr. Underly has worked in all facets of public education, from elementary school principal, a middle and high school teacher, a school district superintendent, a university academic advisor and administrator, assistant director at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and now most currently, as Wisconsin’s most recently statewide elected State Superintendent since 2021.

Dr. Underly became a teacher because she wanted to make the world a better place. That care for the world, the love of democracy and our country, Wisconsin, and the passion to help every child in Wisconsin discover their dreams and build their best life, is what motivates her to lead the charge to make Wisconsin the best state for public education and to raise a family.

Jill Underly lives in rural Hollandale with her husband and two children, as well as too many animals to count.