The West Bend School District (WBSD) announced internal staffing shifts for the 2016-17 school year to strengthen its commitment to supporting students, staff, and families.
Tracey Conners will serve as Interim Principal of East and West high schools for the 2016-17 school year. Conners has served the West Bend School District for 25 years in numerous leadership positions. The West Bend School District will begin a search for its next high school principal this winter with involvement from key stakeholders including students, teachers, staff, parents, and administration.
Conners most recently served the District as the Director of Elementary Education. From 2010 to 2015, Conners served as the Principal at Fair Park Elementary School. During the 2009-2010 school year, she served as Assistant Principal at East High School. From 2007-2009, Conners served as a Curriculum Coordinator. From 1992-2007, Conners taught social studies at East High School.
“The West Bend School District is fortunate to have an outstanding instructional leader familiar with our high schools to step in during this time of transition,” said Erik Olson, Superintendent of Schools.
For the 2016-17 school year, the Director of Elementary Education will be shared by Nan Lustig and Al Pauli. Lustig has been with the WBSD for 29 years in multiple capacities including Reading Specialist, Reading Recovery teacher, Reading and Integrated Language Arts (ILA) Coordinator, and Principal at Decorah Elementary. Last year she served the WBSD as a Learning Specialist.
Pauli recently retired from the District after 40 years and served as Chief Academic Officer, Director of Standards and Assessments, Elementary Principal, and was also a kindergarten teacher.
“The West Bend School District is very fortunate to have two very strong veteran leaders willing to step in this year and continue to move the K-6 system forward,” said Jeanne-marie Ciriacks, Chief Academic Officer. “Nan and Al both have extensive knowledge of the West Bend School District, which will allow us to keep moving forward with our goals of maximizing the learning potential of all students.”
The Director of Elementary Education provides critical support for schools, staff, students, and families in key areas of curriculum and instruction. A few of these key area responsibilities include:
Learning Specialist Leader
- Promotes learning and achievement
- Promotes the principles of student and adult learning
- Utilizes tools of student assessment and data to set learning goals
Curriculum and Instruction Leader
- Facilitates Curriculum Development and Audit Cycles
- Supervises and coordinates K-6 curriculum
- Facilitates District Level Curriculum Goal Teams
- Assists in the development of new resources for curriculum, staff development and planning
- Serves as a resource for teachers and administrators
Leadership Development
- Promotes a collaborative culture and climate
- Leads teams for learning target development, rubric writing, and professional development
- Mentors and coaches K-6 Principals
- Mentors and coaches K-6 Teachers
Professional Development
- Coordinates professional development to meet teacher standards
- Coordinates internal and external staff coursework
- Supports new teacher programs and mentorships
Strategic Planning Deployment
- Coordinates district and school site planning
- Maintains district, state and federal compliance for curriculum, assessment, and standards
- Aligns Classroom Goal Systems to Building Goal Systems to District/Board Goals
On a history note – this article on Al Pauli’s retirement ran Feb. 28, 2015
Al Pauli retiring after 38 years in WBSD
Is 38 years in the West Bend School District enough? For Al Pauli it is. This week the Chief Academic Officer announced he would be retiring in fall to spend more time with his grandchildren.
Pauli, 59, is an educational anomaly; he’s spent his entire career in one school district. “I started in Jackson in 1977 when Bob Walden was principal,” Pauli said. “I was 21 years old and just out of school.”
From there Pauli taught kindergarten at McLane, later became principal at McLane, then went to Central Office to work on “computer stuff,” returned to McLane to teach kindergarten and then back to Central Office. “I’ve been here a long time because the schools get great support from the community,” he said. “The families and parents I’ve worked with have been fantastic.”
Former student Heidi Sternig remembered Pauli from kindergarten. “I loved his class and the animals from his farm were one of my most favorite parts of being in his room,” Sternig said. “My twin sister, Heather Deiss Byron, and I even switched classes so she could be in his room one day. I’m not sure he ever knew, but it was a blast that day!”
Pauli announced his plans now because he wanted to make sure the leadership team has enough time to plan for the future and find the most qualified candidate to help move the District forward.
Pauli also noted, “My lovely wife Ann is not considering retiring—she is not crazy enough to want to be home with me and have me making out spreadsheets about what needs to get done this week. She also thinks I’m going to do the cleaning, cooking, and washing which doesn’t show up on my spreadsheet at all.”