School Specialty (SCOO) 10-Q 2011 Q0 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.1

SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATION

I, David J. Vander Zanden, Chief Executive Officer of School Specialty, Inc., certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the knowledge of the undersigned:

1. The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended January 22, 2011 (the “Report”) which this statement accompanies fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of School Specialty, Inc.

Date: February 22, 2011

/s/ David J. Vander Zanden

David J. Vander Zanden

Chief Executive Officer

This certification accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed as filed by School Specialty, Inc. for purposes of Securities Exchange Act of 1934.