News

The Mequon-Thiensville School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Sam Nadolsky has been selected as the next principal of Steffen Middle School. The MTSD Board of Education approved the appointment at their regular business meeting on Monday, April 22. Mr. Nadolsky will begin in the role this summer, following the retirement of Dr. Deborah Anderson, who has served as the Steffen principal for 22 years. 

Mr. Nadolsky comes to MTSD from the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, where he currently serves as an associate principal at West Milwaukee Intermediate School. Sam has additional experience in the Shorewood School District as an interim principal and seventh-grade math teacher at Shorewood Intermediate School and an Advanced Learning Coordinator (Gifted and Talented) for the district. He holds a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from UW-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from Marquette University.

“Mr. Nadolsky’s educational philosophy is in direct alignment with MTSD’s vision: Each student, every time, empowered to succeed,” said Dr. Matthew Joynt, MTSD Superintendent of Schools. “With a leadership style centered around building trust, Sam believes in collaborative and transparent decision-making, creating structures for safe and effective dialogue for problem-solving, and ensuring decisions are consistent with the values of all stakeholders involved. Also notable is Mr. Nadolsky’s strong belief in data-driven decision-making to improve student outcomes and effective collaboration to ensure that professional development among staff members is meaningful and tailored to the needs of each individual.”

MTSD is currently searching for the next principal of Lake Shore Middle School, following the announcement that current Lake Shore principal Alli Rudich will be assuming the role of Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Cedarburg School District next school year. Those interested in applying for the Lake Shore Principal position can do so on the Wisconsin Educator Career Access Network (WECAN). 

Homestead High School is proud to announce that juniors Madeline Gehl and Kevin Wan are recipients of the Jay Miley “Service Above Self” award. This award is given to students who have gone above and beyond in service and commitment to others. Gehl and Wan were recently honored during a luncheon sponsored by the Milwaukee North Shore Rotary Club. Both students are honors students, gifted musicians in the orchestra program, and recipients of the Homestead's Merit Award for community service and engagement in Homestead activities. 

“Homestead is proud to recognize and celebrate Madeline and Kevin for their significant contributions to volunteer opportunities and community service,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. “This award is a testament to their unwavering dedication to helping others. We commend them not only for their remarkable achievements at Homestead and throughout the community but also for embodying the true spirit of compassion and selflessness.” 

Madeline Gehl is an active participant in Homestead's Best Buddies Program, she volunteers and serves as a teen ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House, and she has participated in several youth mission trips to Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. The most significant volunteer experiences for Madeline have been her mission trips to an impoverished community in Riverton, Jamaica in 2022 and 2023. 

"These extremely impactful experiences, coupled with many other experiences in Riverton and other settings, have fundamentally changed me and the way I view and navigate my life,” said Gehl. “It has strengthened my faith and my unwavering motivation to always help those in need. The most interesting thing is that I sincerely believe that all of the people that I have encountered through volunteer work have given more to me than I could ever possibly give to them." 

Kevin Wan volunteers as a Mathcounts Assistant at Steffen Middle School, volunteers at Wilson Elementary and Donges Bay's Fun Fairs, and is an assistant for the Mequon Scholastic Chess Club. The most meaningful volunteer experience for Kevin was in the summer of 2021. He and his brother organized, developed, and taught a free math camp for 20 middle school students in the Milwaukee Area. Each week in the summer, Kevin and his brother designed and taught hour-long lessons to help students understand concepts found in math competitions. 

"I particularly enjoyed watching the moments of revelation in students' eyes when a complex idea suddenly clicked,” said Wan. "My newfound love of teaching inspired me to volunteer at Steffen to coach Mathcounts and be more active in helping my peers in class. The magic of guiding others into a beautiful subject has stayed after more than two years. I hope to continue to share my love of math with others." 

Homestead High School is proud to announce that seniors Lauren Anderson and Benjamin Levin were recently honored as Herb Kohl Education Foundation Student Excellence Scholars. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 are awarded to 187 graduating high school students across Wisconsin who have demonstrated academic excellence and initiative and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community. 

Award recipients are selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations and the program’s co-sponsors: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA), the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators, and the Wisconsin Homeschooling Parents Association.

"I was thrilled to hear that Lauren and Benjamin were recognized as Herb Kohl Foundation Scholars. Their dedication to academic excellence and strong commitment to serving their community exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Mighty Highlander,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. “This achievement reflects their drive and the supportive environment that we foster here at Homestead. We commend them for their remarkable accomplishments and are confident they will continue to make a positive impact in their future endeavors."

At Homestead, Lauren Anderson has been very involved in several clubs and activities, such as GEMS (Girls Enjoying Math and Science) and DECA, and especially the student council, where she serves as vice president and is involved in planning the annual blood drive, prom, and toy drive. She has also enjoyed being a part of the Homestead orchestra for all four years. Outside of school, Anderson is a competitive Irish dancer who has traveled globally for competitions. She works as a teacher at her dance school and loves working with young dancers to help them improve and reach their goals. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and paddleboarding. After graduation from Homestead, she plans on majoring in biomedical engineering. 

Benjamin Levin has participated in Homestead Robotics for four years, has played for four years on the Homestead Tennis JV and Varsity team, and is a leading member of Homestead's Soliloquy Club, working to create a student-driven literary magazine. Additionally, he leads the Mequon Jewish Preschool Alumni group, facilitating events from fundraisers to games for preschoolers, their parents, and the broader Jewish community. Levin plays the double bass and serves as bass principal of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra's (MYSO) Senior Symphony and the Homestead Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. He has enjoyed competing in the MYSO concerto competition, WSMA Solo and Ensemble, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Stars of Tomorrow. He has especially enjoyed playing at local senior homes and other community events, creating inspiration through music. He spends his free time cooking, experimenting with new food and flavors, especially carrying on family Jewish food traditions, reading, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and exploring new places with family. After graduation, he plans to major in physics.

The Kohl Foundation award program was established by Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator, philanthropist, and businessman who died late last year on December 27, 2023. Since 1990, the foundation has awarded nearly $38 million to Wisconsin educators, principals, students, and schools. For more information on the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, visit KohlEducation.org.

On Thursday, March 21, the Cedarburg School District announced that Ms. Alli Rudich, current principal of Lake Shore Middle School in the Mequon-Thiensville School District, has been selected to be its next Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. Rudich has been serving the Mequon-Thiensville School District since 2011 when she began her tenure as the principal of Donges Bay Elementary School. After six years at Donges Bay, Alli transitioned into the role of principal at Lake Shore Middle School beginning in the 2017-2018 school year.

“The decision to leave the Mequon-Thiensville School District was a difficult one for me due to the amazing 13 years I have had in the district,” said Rudich. “It has been an honor and privilege to work at both Donges Bay and Lake Shore. The staff, families, and students I have gotten to know and love over the years have a very special place in my heart. MTSD is an amazing place to learn, grow, and work.” 

Rudich also has previous experience as an elementary school principal in the Waukesha School District. She is excited to advance her career in her home district of Cedarburg, where she has two children enrolled in the school district.

“Under Ms. Rudich’s leadership, the Lake Shore building culture has strengthened and become a place of inclusivity and camaraderie, where every student feels valued and supported,” said Dr. Matthew Joynt, MTSD superintendent of schools, “Alli has cultivated a balance between high expectations for academic achievement and boundless compassion, ensuring that each student receives not only the tools for success but also the encouragement to reach their full potential. Her advocacy extends beyond the student body, as she continuously champions the needs of her staff members, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the school's collective success. I am grateful for Alli’s vision and support in enhancing the middle school experience at MTSD. Her leadership and resiliency will be missed.”

MTSD leaders will now begin the process of working with school district stakeholders in selecting two new middle school principals, as this announcement comes on the heels of the news of the retirement of Dr. Deborah Anderson, longtime principal of Steffen Middle School. Postings for both principal positions are now listed on WECAN. Staff members and families will be updated as the selection process progresses.

Dr. Deborah Anderson, principal of Steffen Middle School in the Mequon-Thiensville School District (MTSD) has announced her intent to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Dr. Anderson’s retirement was approved by the MTSD Board of Education during their regular business meeting on Monday, February 26, 2024. Dr. Anderson has been with the MTSD since July 2002. With 22 years of experience in the role, she holds the distinction of the longest-serving principal of Steffen Middle School.

Dr. Anderson began her educational career in the Mequon-Thiensville School District in 1991, spending eight years as a physical education teacher at Range Line Elementary and Lake Shore Middle Schools. In addition, she coached at the middle school level and in the girls basketball program at Homestead High School. She then transitioned to the Nicolet Union School District where she continued building her skills as an associate/assistant high school principal before returning to MTSD as the Steffen principal in 2002.

“Dr. Anderson defines what it truly is to be a lifelong learner and leader,” said Dr. Matthew Joynt, MTSD’s superintendent of schools. “Throughout her time in our district, Dr. Anderson has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of lifelong learning and building meaningful relationships with all students. I am grateful for Dr. Anderson’s leadership and thoughtful camaraderie as part of the MTSD administrative team.”

During Anderson’s tenure, she cultivated a culture of collaboration and mutual respect among her fellow educators, as well as active student engagement and interaction through the use of proven instructional strategies. Dr. Anderson’s passion for cultivating meaningful relationships with students has been a truly valuable asset in supporting the academic, social, and emotional development of all middle school learners that have passed through Steffen throughout the years.

“The twenty-two years I have served as principal of Steffen Middle School have been an incredible honor,” said Anderson, “I bear witness each and every day to amazing professional educators who inspire and cultivate a love of learning and community with our students. I plan on making each and every day count for the remainder of the school year.” 

The Mequon-Thiensville School District is proud to announce that fifteen student artists received accolades for their visual artwork through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Under the direction of teachers Melinda Plamann (Steffen and Lake Shore Middle Schools), Kat Hustedde, Katie Nowak, and Gina Ruchalski (Homestead High School), students from Lake Shore & Steffen Middle Schools and Homestead High School received five Gold Keys, four Silver Keys, and sixteen Honorable Mentions.

The Scholastic Art Awards are given annually to students whose work breaks from convention, blurs the boundaries between genres, and challenges notions of how a particular concept or emotion can be expressed. Entries must demonstrate use of techniques to advance an original perspective or a personal vision or voice, and show skills being utilized to create something unique, powerful, and innovative. Other award criteria include working with an authentic and unique point of view and style.

“We are happy to showcase our district's incredible talent through this competition,” said Homestead art instructor, Kat Hustedde, “It truly represents not only the caliber of Visual Art instruction across grades K-12, but also our students' drive for excellence and self-expression. We are excited to celebrate with students and families at the Milwaukee Art Museum! Students often find it surreal seeing one's work hanging in the same space as master artists, and it is quite a confidence boost for them.”

Gold Key Winners include:

• Ana-Lucia Aleman, Grade 12
• Meghan Eckl, Grade 11
• Elsa Heinrich, Grade 11
• Meredith Niedfeldt, Grade 11
• Angela Vang, Grade 12

Silver Key Winners include:

• Liam Aicher, Grade 11
• Addison Drumm, Grade 10
• Cassandra Sklarz, Grade 12
• Angela Vang, Grade 12

Honorable Mentions include:

• Liam Aicher, Grade 11
• Addison Drumm, Grade 10
• Meghan Eckl, Grade 11
• Elsa Heinrich, Grade 11
• Mia Lind, Grade 8
• Riley Meskin, Grade 11
• Clare Pepke, Grade 12
• Olive Ramsey, Grade 12
• Jade Sondag, Grade 12
• Hannah Willis, Grade 12
• Angela Vang, Grade 12
• Kalel Vang, Grade 8

More than 3,000 artworks from grades 7-12 were submitted in this year’s regional competition, for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Voices Nominee, and American Visions Nominee awards. Categories include: Architecture, Ceramics & Glass, Comic Art, Design, Digital Art, Drawing, Fashion, Film & Animation, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

Over 300 award-winning student artworks will be featured in the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum running from February 24 - April 7th. Awards are presented to students along with celebration ceremonies at the museum on March 2nd. All Gold Key recipients’ work goes on to the National competition.

National Medalists and their educators are honored with a formal ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. To see the work of MTSD Scholastic Art Winners digitally, please click here.

Early in the fall of 2023, Homestead sophomore Brandon Liao was selected as a Junior National Team member representing Team USA in the Short Track Speed Skating Junior World Cup, Series 1 and 2. During the competition, held at the end of November in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, Liao achieved a personal record in the 500-meter race and placed 25th in that event.  

The two series competitions involved more than 200 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18, representing 34 different countries. Team USA was comprised of four boys and five girls who collectively competed in the 500m, 1000m, 15000m, and relays. Though Liao was one of the youngest competitors at the event, his performance was strong.

“I feel extremely honored to be selected as a member of Team USA to start my world debut in Leeuwarden, Netherlands,” said Liao. “I have competed in both independent and team races for the U.S. I got my personal record in the 500m and always strive towards my best during the relays.”

When he was just eight years old, Liao started to learn to skate at the Ozaukee Ice Center, then was encouraged to start speed skating by a figure skating coach he was working with. From there, Liao began taking speed skating lessons at the Pettit National Ice Center and decided it was something he would like to seriously pursue. Now, Liao not just competes, but volunteers to teach kids during tryouts and different short track speed skating events at the Pettit. 

“I love speed skating and share my love for this sport with my friends and family. I feel fortunate that I started as my coach’s first student and now we are a community of over 50 skaters,” said Liao. “All of us share the same passion for speed skating. I hope more and more people will join this sport so that we can continue to grow the community.

Earlier this year, Liao earned second place at the National Age Group Championships and is currently ranked in 6th place among all junior skaters nationwide. For this success, Liao’s family credits not just his clear athletic talent and drive, but the supportive environment provided by Homestead High School.

“I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the school's role in providing accommodations for Brandon's needs in training schedules, so he can pursue his love in this sport without sacrificing the academic endeavors,” said Brandon’s father, Qian Liao, “The guidance of his counselors, Mrs. Navarre and Mrs. Schaefer, and the overall encouragement has been invaluable.”

During a working meeting of the MTSD Board of Education on Monday, December 4, two co-chairs from the District’s 2023 Community Task Force presented the task force’s recommendation for mitigating budget shortfalls. The Community Task Force was convened in October following a charge from the MTSD Board of Education to evaluate the top alternatives from a recent analytical process and suggest prioritized revenue-generating solutions for current and future budget deficits. The Task Force was comprised of eleven individuals representing a diverse range of perspectives related to the school district and community and was co-chaired by MTSD parents and local business professionals, Joe Nelson and Katie Ott. 

The Community Task Force came together for four meetings over the course of six weeks and worked with external facilitators from the Donovan Group, a school communications and engagement firm, to draft and complete a final report and recommendation for the Board of Education. During the final Task Force meeting on Tuesday, November 28, the report was finalized with unanimous approval from Task Force members.

On Monday evening, co-chairs Nelson and Ott presented the Board with the recommendation of pursuing a November 2024 operating referendum as part of a “bundled approach” combining the three potential solutions outlined in the Board’s charge; philanthropic giving and continued exploration of reducing expenses while using Fund 46/Fund Balance, or the District’s “cash on hand,” if needed. As it relates to a recurring versus a non-recurring referendum, the Task Force favored a non-recurring referendum. 

During the presentation, co-chair Joe Nelson noted that the Task Force “did not relish the idea of going to an operating referendum” but that it appeared to be the only realistic option given the scope of the Board’s charge and the challenging timeframe. 

“As we considered the bundled approach, the timing of the deployment of each of those strategies was really what became important to us,” added co-chair Katie Ott, “Short-term use of the Fund Balance we felt would be okay, long-term deployment of a philanthropic giving campaign could be fantastic, but probably won’t happen overnight; and we certainly don’t want to duplicate the efforts of the Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation. So that really left us with, in order to effectively and immediately-ish address the budget needs, that leaves us with a referendum - within the scope that we have been charged with.”

In addition to the recommendation presented in alignment with the Board’s formal charge, the Task Force noted three additional “parking lot” items that the Board should consider as additional recommendations. Those items included managing outflows and reducing operating expenses, continued advocacy related to public school funding in Wisconsin, and robust communication of cost containment measures that the District has implemented over the last five years.

As a next step, the Board will continue discussions regarding the recommendation of the Community Task Force and additional school budget considerations at their regular business meeting scheduled for Monday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m. in the Range Line Community Center Conference Room. All Community Task Force meeting minutes and a video recording of the recommendation presentation can be viewed at www.mtsd.k12.wi.us/task-force. 

MTSD encourages members of the community to follow the work of the MTSD Board of Education and administration by attending Board meetings, reviewing news posts on the MTSD website, and taking note of periodic mailed updates from the District. Learn more and view the Board of Education meeting schedule at: www.mtsd.k12.wi.us/board