Jason Arndt, jarndt@shawanoleader.com
Shawano School Board members approved the contracts of two new administrators Monday.
Mary Kramer will replace Daniel Labby, who recently announced his retirement, effective June 30, as principal of Shawano Community Middle School. Labby served the district as an administrator for 12 years, including the last nine in his current position.
Stuart Russ will become an associate principal at Shawano Community High School. Guidance counselor Rex Wachtel held the position on an interim basis following the departure in August of Steve Linssen, who became principal at Gillett Secondary School.
Kramer is originally from Wausau and brings 18 years of education experience to the job, most recently as associate principal at Oregon High School.
“What really struck us is her positive attitude … and (she) has a lot of new ideas, which is what we were looking for,” Superintendent Gary Cumberland said. “She is an outgoing person and was looking for more cultural diversity.”
Kramer received bachelor degrees in Spanish and secondary education from St. Norbert College in De Pere in 1996, and a Master of Education degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
“Cultural diversity strengthens those who have the opportunity to experience it,” Kramer said. “My goals for the coming year have a direct connection to developing and enhancing a robust, collaborative school culture.”
Prior to working in Oregon, she was bilingual associate principal at Green Bay Preble, where she was part of a Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce’s Focus on Attendance subcommittee. She also served as director of instruction at Viterbo University in La Crosse.
Kramer will earn $88,000 as the new middle school principal, an $8,000 increase from her job in Oregon. Labby made $95,000 this year.
Russ will be closer to his hometown of Wausaukee following three years as a social studies teacher at Laconia High School in the Rosendale-Brandon School District.
“Shawano is little closer to where I am from and it is beautiful school,” Russ said. “I am very excited about working with the administrative staff and helping to promote learning.”
He earned a degree in history with a minor in secondary education from Ripon College and his administrative degree from Marian University in Fond du Lac. He began his full-time teaching career at Luxemburg-Casco in 2009.
Cumberland said Russ has a proactive approach to student needs. He also was involved in projects at Cirrus High School, Rosendale-Brandon’s charter school.
“I come from a family of teachers, principals and superintendents, and this is something I want to do for the rest of my life,” said Russ, in regards to his new assistant principal position.
“I am sad to see that part of my life end, but am really excited to be in Shawano,” Russ said.
Russ will receive $70,000 annually from the district, up from $42,000 with the Rosendale-Brandon School District.
With Labby’s retirement, the district has lost six administrators within the last year.
Superintendent Todd Carlson took the same position with the Gillett School District just days before the start of the 2013-14 school year, the same time Linssen departed for Gillett.
Tim Mayer, former high school associate principal and athletic director, joined the private sector in December, and Gail Moesch retired as the district’s business manager in February.
Tami Bagstad, associate principal at Shawano Community Middle School, will leave the district June 30 to become principal of Rexford-Longfellow Elementary School in Clintonville.