Page 20 - TTWISummer2026

Leadership
Page 20 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Wisconsin’s 2026 Outstanding Educators Recognized by Herb Kohl

Educational Foundation

The Herb Kohl Educational Founda- Wisconsin.
tion has named 115 Wisconsin educators as “Education is where every future begins.
recipients of its 2026 awards, distributing $1.4 We know great educators are the ones who
million to honor exceptional teachers and prin- make those futures possible,” said JoAnne
cipals across the state. Anton, president and CEO of Herb Kohl Phi-
One hundred teachers each received a lanthropies. “Celebrating their work is not just
$6,000 Teacher Fellowship award, and 15 recognition – it’s an investment in the strength
principals each received a $6,000 Principal of our communities and the promise of the
Leadership award. Each recipient’s school next generation.”
will also receive a matching $6,000 grant to Teachers were recognized for their
support student learning and school initiatives. ability to inspire a love of learning, motivate
The educators were selected from more students and demonstrate leadership both
than 1,200 nominations through a rigor- inside and outside the classroom. Principals
ous review process at regional and statewide were honored for setting high standards for
levels. Recipients come from traditional instruction, achievement and character while Applications for 2027 Award Cycle Teachers and Principals opens on Monday August 3,
public, charter and private schools throughout fostering positive school environments. 2026. The deadline for all applications is January 5, 2027 at 5PM Central Time.

Lauren Ward, Gibraltar Elementary, Fish Michael Hayden, Wauwatosa East High
Creek School, Wauwatosa
Lindsay Hendricks, Ronald Reagan Elemen-
CESA 9 tary, New Berlin
Jaclyn Jecha, New Berlin West Middle/High
Gretchen Smart-Hall, Northland Pines School, New Berlin
Elementary, Eagle River
Amy Kosmider, Brookfield East High
School, Brookfield
CESA 10
John Kozicke, Greendale High School,
Jill Lybert, Medford High School, Medford Greendale
David Landeros Cortes, South Division
2026 Herb Kohl Educational High School, Milwaukee
Foundation Teacher Fellows Alec Lenczner-Bagdasarian, Saint Augustine
Preparatory Academy, Milwaukee
Public educators among the 2026 Jimmy Litscher, Saint Thomas More High
recipients were automatically advanced for School, Milwaukee
consideration in the Wisconsin Teacher of the
Year program. Matthew Marino, Whitnall High School,
Greenfield
CESA 1 Suzanne Milewski, Reagan High School,
Cale Vogel, Lake Mills High School, Lake
2026 Herb Kohl Educational Mills Milwaukee
Foundation Principal Leaders Kimberly Au, Luther Elementary, South Jaime Mutz, Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary,
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
The Association of Wisconsin School CESA 3 Jody Bauer, Vincent High School, Milwau-
Administrators chooses the Elementary and kee Cheryl Panka, Pewaukee Lake Elementary,
Secondary Principals of the Year from among Brad Sturmer, Winskill Elementary, Lan- Pewaukee
the public school recipients. caster Jennifer Bertrand-LaDuke, Milwaukee Christine Perkins, Park View Middle School,
Parkside School, Milwaukee Mukwonago
CESA 1 CESA 5 Corrianne Cain, Hales Corners Lutheran Christine Peterson, Mukwonago High
Schools, Hales Corners School, Mukwonago
Theresa Christensen, Lowell International Toni Ross, Saint Patrick’s School, Mauston Jamie Cuzman, Kettle Moraine Middle Mary Piwaron, Franklin High School,
Elementary, Milwaukee Eric Scheunemann, Lodi Elementary, Lodi School, Dousman Franklin
Catherine Loss, Barbee Elementary, Mil- Katie Dennert, Hales Corners Lutheran Lisa Plopper, Divine Redeemer Lutheran
waukee CESA 7 Schools, Hales Corners School, Hartland
Justin Nies, Magee Elementary, Genesee Ivana DiCastri, Christ King School, Wau- Sandra Rice, Catholic Memorial High
Depot Russ Gerke, West De Pere High School, De watosa School, Waukesha
Pere
CESA 2 Jeff Kondrakiewicz, Cedar Grove-Belgium Paula Duchow, Saint Bruno School, Leah Rogneby, New Berlin West Middle/
Dousman
High School, New Berlin
Elementary, Cedar Grove
Sally Pope, Monroe Elementary, Janesville Samantha Meyers, Chilton Area Catholic Jonathan Etter, Wauwatosa East High Nicholas Schueller, Homestead High School,
School, Wauwatosa
Jamie Thomas, Indian Mound Middle School, Chilton Mequon
School, McFarland
Continued on Page 21