Exhibit 32.1

        CERTIFICATION BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                       OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of School Specialty, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 26, 2003, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, David J. Vander Zanden, President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the knowledge of the
undersigned:

     1.   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

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

Dated: September 8, 2003


                                        /s/ David J. Vander Zanden
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        David J. Vander Zanden
                                        President and 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 filed by
the Company for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.