William Mathis, 'champion of education equity,' remembered by friends and colleagues

June 13, 2026 - 05:00

William Mathis, a nationally recognized education policy expert and former longtime Rutland County school superintendent, died last week. He was a central figure in the fight for equitable school funding in Vermont, serving as a key witness in the landmark Brigham v. State lawsuit that reshaped how the state pays for education.

Friends and colleagues remember Mathis as a relentless advocate for students, especially those from low-income families. He believed that a child's zip code should not determine the quality of their education. His work on the Brigham case in the 1990s helped lead to Vermont's current "equalized" funding system, which pools resources from wealthy and poor districts to ensure a baseline level of support for every school.

Beyond his legal impact, Mathis spent decades as a superintendent in Rutland County, where he was known for his hands-on approach and deep commitment to rural schools. He later became a scholar at the National Education Policy Center, where he continued to critique high-stakes testing and school privatization. Those who worked with him describe a man of sharp intellect and deep integrity, who never stopped asking tough questions about how to give every child a fair shot. His legacy lives on in the schools and policies he helped shape.