Voters faced with choices for DPI chief

Voters will narrow field of 7 to 2 for superintendent of public instruction

On February 16, voters across the state will head to the polls to narrow the list of candidates seeking the nonpartisan office of Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction The superintendent’s responsibilities include providing leadership for Wisconsin’s public school districts, providing the public with information about school management, attendance, and performance, licensing the state’s teachers, and receiving and disbursing federal aid for schools. The current officeholder is Carolyn Stanford Taylor. Taylor succeeded Tony Evers in the position after he stepped down following his election as governor of Wisconsin in 2018.

There are currently seven candidates seeking the position. Voters will be asked to reduce that to a field of two candidates who will face off at the April 6 general election.

In an effort to help educate voters before they head to the polls next week, The Star News compiled profiles of each candidate with information based from public statements, campaign websites, Ballotpedia.com and other public information about them. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Sheila Briggs

Sheila Briggs is currently an assistant state superintendent at the state Department of Public Instruction.

She began her 30-year career as a kindergarten teacher. Then, became a Principal and later worked at the Madison district office as an administrator, supporting 32 elementary school principals. Tony Evers called her in 2011 and asked her to join him at DPI as Assistant State Superintendent. She jumped at the opportunity and was then re-appointed by Carolyn Stanford Taylor in 2019.

Key messages of Briggs’ campaign include: • Stop chasing test scores. Education is more than math and reading. And if we do this right-increased test results will be a by-product of taking better care of our kids.

• Improve working conditions in the classroom. Act 10 was not a gift, it was terrible. We have to stop demonizing our teachers. • The way we fund public schools is not working. Our current funding formula provides property tax relief, it does not ensure that kids or teachers have what they need to be successful.

She states in her campaign material: “Over the past decade, I’ve seen first-hand the quality and caliber of DPI’s staff. I know where things are working well, and I know where things need to change. I believe this is a moment in education when we must improve what is working, leave behind what is not, and move forward toward something better. I want to re-evaluate Wisconsin’s approach in three key areas: the outcomes we value for our kids, the role of the teacher, and the structure of the school.

“In order to make these changes and advocate for our kids, our teachers, and our public schools, the Department must be proactive in addressing policy changes that are aligned with a coherent and bold agenda.”

Joe Fenrick

Joe Fenrick is a science teacher at Fond du Lac High School, a geology lecturer at UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac Campus, an elected official serving on Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors and father of four children between preschool and high school.

Fenrick grew up in a household of educators. His father was a teacher and a principal for Campbellsport School District for 35 years and his mother taught at St. Mathews Catholic Elementary School in Campbellsport for 20 years.

He states that his first job was at a local farm picking rocks, unloading hay and helping to feed cows. He said this taught him work ethic and appreciation of where food comes from as well as fostering an interest in agriculture and science classes.

He attended UW-Oshkosh where he worked for the geology department as a research assistant, lab assistant, and a tutor. In 2006 he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Education with a Major in Natural Science and a Minor in Earth Science. He earned his Master’s Degree in 2017.

He is active in community outreach and volunteering. Throwing the baseball back and forth he was a tee-ball coach, kicking the ball and being the goalie as 15 kids were taking aim to score a goal he was a soccer coach, running around the track and teaching them the techniques of hurdling he was a track coach. He has also volunteered for habitat restoration with Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Lake Winnebago clean up. He ran for Fond du Lac County Board in 2016 and was elected with 78% of the vote.

Troy Gunderson

Troy Gunderson a Viterbo University professor and former superintendent of the School District of West Salem.

He grew up in Colfax and after graduation from the University of Minnesota Gunderson embarked on a 35-year career in public education including seven years as a classroom teacher at Melrose-Mindoro High School, and 16 years as a high school principal - one year in Princeton and 15 years in West Salem.

He then served 12 years as a school superintendent including two years at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District in Galesville, and ten years for the School District of West Salem. Gunderson currently serves as an adjunct professor of school finance in the superintendent certification program at Viterbo University in La Crosse.

Troy and his wife Jill live in West Salem. Jill is retired from her career as a middle school science teacher at Melrose-Mindoro Middle School. Troy and Jill have two adult children, Kelsey and Kirsten, who are both graduates of West Salem High School and the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Gunderson offers the following platform for Wisconsin: Create a vision for Wisconsin

• Use the framework offered by “No Time to Lose: How to Build a World-Class Education System State by State” as our guide

• Expand upon the work completed by the recent Blue Ribbon Commission on Education

• Ensure all efforts are clearly aligned with the vision Children ready to learn

• Increase investments in programs to better serve 3-year old and 4-year old children

• Work with communities to improve and expand options for affordable daycare

• Work with communities to better serve families with school aged children

Teachers ready to teach

• Commit to the notion of teaching as a professional career

• Support programs to attract the next generation of teachers

• Offer additional support and coordination for professional development

• Lead a coordinated effort to offer world-class curriculum and instruction Graduates ready for their future

• Apply the framework offered by Redefining Ready to ensure all graduates are career, college, and life ready

• Improve the connection between secondary and post-secondary institutions

• Expand private industry participation in career and technical education

Deborah Kerr

Deborah Kerr stepped down in June 2020 after serving 13 years as superintendent at Brown Deer Schools, a majority-minority district with 80% students of color and 50% poverty. Altogether she has 21 years experience as superintendent of public rural and suburban districts as part of a career in education stretching over 40 years.

She has served in leadership positions within state and national associations serving as president of both the School Superintendents Association (AASA) and Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA). She has worked in all sectors of education including parochial, charter, private and public schools.

She has served as athletic director, physical education teacher and coached back-to-back girls varsity state championships.

Her goals in running for office are to: Ensure success for all students through equity with excellence

• Ensure success for every student by creating schools that prioritize character education, with rich