By Chris Spangler
The School District of Fort Atkinson’s 2021-22 year got off to a rockin’ start Thursday morning as Altar Boy Picnic performed for teachers, administrators and support staff gathered for the annual convocation.
The morning at the high school began with breakfast, a photo booth and lots of excited chatter as school district staff both reunited with colleagues and welcomed new co-workers.
As the band played on, there were T-shirt giveaways, awards presentations, the introduction of new staff and inspiring remarks by District Administrator Rob Abbott, all designed to get the fall semester off to an enthusiastic start.
“Every year at convocation, I get to highlight new members of our 1Fort team,” said Mandy Harper, district director of human services. “This past year has brought more changes than I can count — a pandemic, virtual learning, in-person learning, hybrid learning, mitigation strategies, grocery delivery, a new level of excitement when the Amazon delivery truck pulls up, and the list goes on.
“One of the many changes of the past year includes transition in a number of 1Fort staff positions,” she continued. “The new staff that I am highlighting today bring with them a wealth of experiences, education, and strengths to our district. I am thrilled that each and every one of them has made the decision to join our 1Fort team, and I believe their future contributions will be instrumental in our efforts to move 1Fort forward in achieving our new and exciting district goals”
New staff introduced include:
• Barrie Elementary School: Justin Stewart, principal; Sydney Young, school counselor.
• Luther Elementary School and Administrative Wing: Jessica Ehlers, grade 1 teacher; Kimberly Kerr, grade 1 teacher; Angela Salamone, coordinator for special education and pupil services.
• Purdy Elementary School: Anna Albert, cross-categorical teacher; Jordan Bingner, grade 3 teacher; Rebecca Brown, Early Childhood teacher; Holly Dow, music teacher; Micaela (Caitlin) Duncan, math coach/math interventionist; Tracey Koeppen, EL teacher; Nikita Skaer, grade 4 teacher; Nicholas Stillings, grade 5 teacher.
• Rockwell Elementary School: Amanda Hein, music teacher.
• Fort Atkinson Middle School: Diana Barber, alternative education teacher; Michael Czerwonka, school social worker; Angelo Faris, English teacher; Aaron Geiger, school psychologist; Brianna Halvorsen, custodian; Taylor Jarzynski, physical education/health teacher; Jessica Karls, school counselor; Julie Lewis, cross-categorical teacher; Shelly Malterer, math teacher/math interventionist; Annie Sitkiewitz, English teacher.
• Fort Atkinson High School: Samantha Ahler, school counselor; Miranda Cottrell, administrative assistant; Zachary Cruz, custodian; Rebecca Haefner, library media specialist; Ronald Hribar, alternative education teacher; Michaela Kane, English teacher; Kendra Kapitz, school psychologist; Casey Klein, math teacher; Amy Kornowski, chemistry teacher; Aaron Kremsreiter, science teacher; Samuel Maasz, English teacher; Stephanie Ramer, school social worker; Kyla Sinde, cross-categorical teacher; Kiah Snow, choir teacher; Samatha Tres, biology teacher; Michael Zolecki, business education teacher.
“We are so fortunate to have such wonderful additions to our 1Fort team,” Harper said.
“On behalf of the HR team, I wish you an incredible school year, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things we accomplish as one team, one district, and one community,” she concluded. “Have a great school year!”
In his remarks, Abbott briefly outlined the district’s strategic plan, goals, vision and mission, challenging the staff to leave no child behind. (An earlier story outlining the district’s new strategic plan is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/school-district-approves-new-strategic-plan/.)
He briefly looked back at the 2020-21 school year, when classes essentially were taught virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were definitely times when it felt pretty dark, but we rode the wave, folks; we definitely did that,” he said. “We worked together last year and we came out and our kids did well.
“We did have moments where things really, really came together. Where things were riding high and we were riding that wave all the way through. “
But as the new year starts, there still are more waves coming, he cautioned, showing a photo of a surfer with a huge wave overhead.
He added, “I am absolutely guessing that we are going to take some falls, we are going to stand tall, but we are going to ride the waves together, friends … and we are about to do some incredible work with our kids.”
Abbott pointed out that the district does not hire new people to assimilate into the ways in which things always have been done.
“Those people (new employees) who were just standing have a ton that we can learn from,” he said. “They have a ton of new experiences, they have a ton of new ideas … and we need these people. And please make sure you do everything you can to not only welcome them, but to learn from them as we unfold the journey of the school year together.”
The superintendent then talked about the 1Fort “brand”: One team, one district, one community.
“The idea of 1Team is not just a rhetorical statement. It’s the idea that as we build together, as we work together, as we learn to navigate even when it’s tough to work with each other, that we are stronger when we’re together, that we are stronger when we’re one team.,” Abbott explained.
“That’s not just something to talk about. That’s something that maybe we’re not there yet, but we will continue to work and grow, continue to nurture, so that we someday can really look back and say ‘we nailed that,’ that we came together as one team.”
He acknowledged that while the staff members are one district, they also are distinct learning communities at the six schools.
“We’ve got 2,600 kids and there’s no reason on earth that we shouldn’t be focusing as one school district,” Abbott said. “That’s not a ‘nice to have’ … That’s something that I’m not sure we’ve always had in the past, but it’s something that’s required for us to do the work we need to do together.”
Turning to 1Community, Abbott referred to Monday’s special school board meeting attended by about 100 members of the public, the majority against mandating masks in the classroom. The issue aside, he expressed chagrin at what he considered a lack of civility among many attendees. (An earlier story about a special meeting held Aug. 23 during which a majority of parents spoke against masks is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/masks-optional-in-district-school-buildings/.
“The power we have in our community is one of the big takeaways from Monday night,” Abbott said. “… We have the ability, over the course of 187 days of working together and 180 days working with kids, to continue to work on the idea of what does civility look like? What does discord or disagreement in a productive manner look like? What does it look like to have a difference of opinion and be able to talk in a civil manner? That is power we have.”
He said that many of the people at Monday’s meeting were the district’s former students.
“The people there Monday night are entitled to their opinion, but no one, in my opinion, should feel it’s OK to interact in the way things interacted Monday night,” Abbott stated.
“The difference for us is that we actually have power over that,” he continued. “The difference is when we work with each other, and when we grow as a district, we are modeling for people what hard work and what diligence and what teamwork looks like. When we have kids in our classrooms, when we have kids in our schools, our playgrounds, our buses, and all over our organization, we have the ability to directly reinforce what a meaningful citizenry can look like in Fort Atkinson.”
He added, “So this year, when I’m thinking about 1Fort, when I’m thinking about 1Community, it means a little more than it ever has before.”
The superintendent said that this is not a “nice to have.” This is a “we can, we will, we must.”
“… What I am here to say today is that we are going to continue doing the good work we’ve done in the past, but only in a more meaningful way.” he said.
Abbott also talked briefly about the district’s new strategic plan, guiding principles and core values.
“Read it,” he said of the strategic plan. “This is the foundation of our school district. It’s not a ‘nice to have.’ It’s who we are and who you need to be to work here.”
As for the district’s vision, he said, “We settled on very few words, and when you use very few words, every word is vitally important.”
This marks the first time that the district has had a written vision statement: “Achieving distinction in all we do.”
“Achieving isn’t passive. It’s something that you work toward and something that you work hard in looking for distinction,” Abbott said. “We have no interest in being in the middle of the pack. We have no interest in being as good as some other places. Our kids, our families, simply deserve more.”
The superintendent said that the district’s mission is to cultivate an inclusive, high-performing culture of growth and community.
“For me, cultivate is about planting a seed, watering it, tending it, weeding, nurturing it along,” he said. “This is the framework of our work together over the next several years.”
A main goal is that all schools, as well as the district, will achieve a state accountability rating of ‘significantly exceeds expectations’ no later than the 2025-26 report card with evidence of annual growth.
“We will not live in the past. We are here and moving on,” he said.
“We can’t settle. Our community doesn’t want us to settle. And they’re tired. And whether they know it or not, they say they want to be the place where everyone wants to go.”
Abbott said everyone must work together and simultaneously chip away toward this goal during the next five years.
“And if we’re not seeing growth, were not seeing change in improvement, we have time to change course and do some things differently,” he said.
The superintendent also noted that for the first time ever, the district is upside down in open enrollment, with more students leaving the district that coming in, with many going to parochial schools.
“I refuse to wallow there, but let’s call it what it is,” he said.
In upcoming years, the district will need community support to pass an operational referendum and a proposed new middle school and elementary school safety updates, he said.
“We know we need to have facilities for kids and make us the place people want to come to,” he said. (An earlier story outlining proposed district facilities improvements and a phased approach to secure them is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/school-board-gives-go-ahead-to-developing-phased-plan-for-facility-improvements/.)
“In order for us to go to our community and ask for stuff, we are going to have show an incredible improvement in growth and an incredible commitment to being the school district of choice in the area.
“That’s ‘we can, we will, we must.’ This isn’t ‘yeah, we sometimes can, we really should and, yeah, it might be nice …’
“That not who you are, and that’s not who we are, and that’s certainly not who I am either,” Abbott added.
He advised that the strategic plan is not something to be scared of, but it is something that all staff need roll up their sleeves and get to work on … together.
“I am humbled to lead this school district. Humbled to stand here and to look at 400 people who come next week to welcome 2,600 kids in the classrooms in our schools,” Abbott concluded. “And feed them, and nurture them and help them learn and grow to be the best people they can be.
“Like Fort Atkinson, I am all in.”
Two photos above: Altar Boy Picnic rocks the convocation in Fort Atkinson High School’s auditorium Thursday.
Teachers dance to the music of Altar Boy Picnic at the School District of Fort Atkinson’s convocation.
Teachers fill the high school auditorium for Thursday’s School District of Fort Atkinson convocation.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintend Rob Abbott talks about the district’s strategic plan and goals during Thursday’s convocation.
Chris Spangler photos.
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