Cudahy names three finalists for superintendent position
The Cudahy School Board has selected three finalists for its superintendent position.
The finalists are Elizabeth Freeman, chief academic officer for the Community Unit School District 300 in Algonquin, Illinois; Michelle Garven, superintendent of the Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated School District in Trevor, Wisconsin; and Maggy Olson, the director of equity and instruction for the Greendale School District. The three finalists were among 21 candidates who applied for the position.
The finalists will visit the district and participate in community and staff listening sessions on April 18 at Cudahy Middle School. Community listening sessions are scheduled in the school's second-floor library, with Freeman at 5:45 p.m., followed by Garven at 6:15 p.m. and Olson at 6:45 p.m.
Staff listening sessions are scheduled to take place the same day at the school's lecture room on the second floor, starting with Freeman at 5:15 p.m., Garven at 5:45 p.m. and Olson at 6:15 p.m.
The Cudahy School Board is seeking a replacement for the district's current superintendent, Tina Owen-Moore, who announced her resignation in January, effective June 30. Owen-Moore cited divisions on the board as her reason for resigning. She was one of three finalists for the Neenah School District's superintendent position, but she did not get the job. The Neenah School Board instead selected Appleton Area School District assistant superintendent Steve Harrison for the position.
The board is expected to vote April 29 to approve the contract for its choice, with the goal of having the new superintendent in place July 1.
Here's what to know about the Cudahy finalists:
Elizabeth Freeman
Along with her current role in District 300, Freeman was previously director of professional development and programs for the district. Freeman also served as the assistant superintendent of innovative learning, teaching and technology in Fremont School District 79 and as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment services in Rochelle Township High School 212.
Freeman has a doctorate of education: curriculum, instruction and educational leadership from Loyola University; a master's of education: curriculum, instruction and educational psychology from National Louis University; and a bachelor's in French from Northern Illinois University, according to the Cudahy School District's website.
Freeman is a published author and has written about mindfulness, innovation and professional learning communities; serves as a CODiE judge for innovative educational technology software; is a member of the state and national superintendents' associations; the state principal association Learning Forward; and ASCD, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, according to the Cudahy School District's website.
Michelle Garven
Along with her current role, Garven's past experience includes having served as the Grafton School District's director of learning services and as St. Francis Public Schools' high school principal and K-12 director of curriculum and instruction.
She holds a doctorate in leadership, service and learning from Cardinal Stritch University; a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Alverno College and a bachelor's degree in education from Mount Mary College.
Garven also is a member of the Milwaukee School of Engineering's Board of Directors, according to the Cudahy School District's website.
Maggy Olson
Olson was the founding principal and administrator coach at Milwaukee College Prep; principal at 81st Street School; a new leader resident principal at South Division High School and a school administrator, special education coach and teacher in Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis Public Schools.
Olson is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a bachelor's degree in special education from the same university. She also earned a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Olson is also a member of the New Leaders for New Schools 8 Cohort, the Cudahy School District's website said.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cudahy names three finalists for superintendent position
