MARSHFIELD – Three seats are open for the 2026 Marshfield School Board Spring Election.
Two seats are three-year terms, and the third seat is for one year to fill a vacancy.
A primary election will be held Feb. 17 to narrow a field of seven candidates down to six.
All seven candidates are being profiled in the Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 editions.
Are you able to prioritize this role among your other professional and personal responsibilities?
Yes, I’m personally invested in the success of our schools and community.
What’s your connection to the school?
My wife and I graduated with the class of 2000, and we chose to settle down in Marshfield to raise our family. I currently have a daughter in high school, while our son wraps up his final year at Nasonville Elementary. With eight nieces and nephews also enrolled in our district, our roots are in this community. Marshfield will always be my home, and I care deeply about our schools and the community that has shaped us.
What specifically motivates you to seek this position?
My son’s struggles early on made me take a step back and reflect on the decisions made by our leadership. These decisions resulted in negative outcomes for our teachers, students, and community.
Why are you running for school board and what are your qualifications?
I’m running because I believe I can make a positive impact on our district and community. With over 21 years at Roehl Transport, I serve as a market manager overseeing our Northeast Van Division. I hold a business administration degree with a Minor in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In my role leading and directing our Northeast Market team, I monitor market trends and analyze data to inform our strategic direction in a dynamic economy. My strong leadership skills and practical knowledge will be a strong asset on our board. It takes leaders to lead, and all great leaders surround themselves with great people through accountability. It’s through accountability that we build and develop great teams that drives success. Accountability on our School board is paramount for our success in our district.
How do you approach working with people you strongly disagree with?
It’s crucial to approach the situation with empathy and respect. Pay attention to their perspective and ask clarifying questions to understand their viewpoint. Identify areas where we both agree, which can help bridge the gap and make conversation more constructive. Ultimately you make them feel heard and valued, reinforcing the importance of their input in the discussion.
What is one thing about yourself that the public might not know, but should?
My wife is the head coach of our Marshfield Mountain Bike Club for our student athletes in grades 6 through 12. I help support the team with trail maintenance at School Forest where most of our practices take place. This season, our team placed 4th overall out of 78 schools in Division 2 of the Wisconsin NICA league. We will be hosting the inaugural start this Labor Day weekend at Powers Bluff, welcoming nearly 1,200 athletes from Wisconsin and neighboring states.
How do you want to be remembered after your time on the board ends?
I want to be remembered as a catalyst for change in our district, someone who inspired unity and action, guiding us to a path of success that benefits our community and future generations.
What changes would you like to work on during the upcoming term?
My vision is to focus on strengthening our foundation in early education. I propose eliminating iPads in early education, especially in K-third grade and reducing their use in higher education. Early brain development is crucial, and a strong foundation in traditional teaching methods fosters essential skills. By prioritizing traditional learning methods, we enhance comprehension and enable parents to actively engage in their children’s education. This approach develops critical thinking and creativity but also ensures that students are well-prepared for future academic challenges.
What are the top needs of your school district?
The declining academic performance and budget constraints impacted by our handling of COVID and COVID funding as well as the impacts of our declining enrollment.
How will you address the different needs of all the students?
My son’s journey with dyslexia and ADHD has highlighted the significant challenges these kids face in our district. We excel at supporting students who meet or exceed expectations. How do we help the children who are working hard to just get by in class? Those are the children that are not qualifying for intervention as they are not failing but still could do so much better. My challenge to our district is straightforward: what are we doing to uplift these students? I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation my son underwent thanks to a retired teacher from our district that utilizes the Orton-Gillingham approach to phonics, elevating him to the 95th percentile. Her dedication made me realize that we can offer so much more to our district and community to support all learners.
Are you able to prioritize this role among your other professional and personal responsibilities?
Yes. I am intentionally structuring my professional commitments so I can devote the time, energy, and preparation this role deserves. Serving on the school board is not something I would take lightly. I understand the responsibility to students, families, staff, and taxpayers, and I am prepared to attend meetings, study materials thoroughly, and stay engaged with the community to make thoughtful, informed decisions.
What’s your connection to the school?
I was born and raised in this community and taught in the district for 18 years, including being named Wisconsin’s 2025 Tech Ed Instructor of the Year. I also taught for over a decade at Mid-State Technical College. My son graduated from the district on a technical-education path, and my daughter is graduating this year on a college-prep track. I’ve experienced this district as a teacher, parent and community member.
What specifically motivates you to seek this position?
I care deeply about this community and its schools. I’ve spent my career working with students of all backgrounds and helping them find paths to success. I want to continue serving by supporting strong academics, career readiness, responsible financial planning and a culture that values teachers and staff. I believe thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and listening to community voices can keep our district moving in a positive direction.
Why are you running for school board and what are your qualifications?
I’m running because I bring a unique mix of classroom experience, small-business perspective, and deep community roots. I understand curriculum, workforce connections, budgeting realities, and student needs firsthand. I’ve built successful programs through collaboration and innovation, and I know how important transparency and long-term planning are. My goal is to help ensure every student has opportunities to succeed while being respectful of taxpayers.
How do you approach working with people you strongly disagree with?
Respectfully and with an open mind. I’ve spent my career working with students, parents, administrators, and business partners who didn’t always agree, and that’s healthy. I listen first, try to understand different viewpoints, focus on facts, and keep students at the center of every conversation. Good decisions come from thoughtful discussion, not personal attacks or rigid positions.
What is one thing about yourself that the public might not know but should?
I spend a lot of time building relationships and solving problems long before they become visible. Throughout my career, I’ve worked to open doors for students, bring community partners into schools, and find creative solutions when resources are tight. I’m not motivated by recognition; I’m motivated by impact. If something helps students succeed or strengthens this district, I’m willing to put in the work quietly and consistently.
How do you want to be remembered after your time on the board ends?
As someone who listened, brought people together, and made decisions thoughtfully and transparently. I hope to be remembered as a steady voice who supported students and educators, respected taxpayers, and helped strengthen the district for the long term. If families felt heard and the schools were better because I served, I would consider that a success.
What changes would you like to work on during the upcoming term?
I’d like to focus on long-term financial planning, strengthening career-and-technical partnerships, supporting staff retention, and improving communication with the community. I also want to explore grant opportunities and ways local businesses can collaborate with schools more easily. My goal is steady improvement, not drastic swings, while keeping classrooms and student success front and center.
What are the top needs of your school district?
Strong academics, responsible budgeting, staff support, and preparing students for multiple post-graduation paths; whether college, military, apprenticeships, or the workforce. Facilities planning, student mental-health support, and transparent communication with families are also critical. Balancing these priorities while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars will be one of the board’s most important responsibilities.
How will you address the different needs of all students?
Every student is different, and our system should reflect that. I support strong academic standards paired with career and technical education, special-education services, advanced coursework, and alternative pathways. I’ll advocate for decisions based on data, educator input, and family feedback. My goal is to ensure every student, regardless of background or goals, has access to opportunity and support.
Are you able to prioritize this role among your other professional and personal responsibilities?
Yes, I am. As a current board member, I have managed my board responsibilities just fine along with my responsibilities to my family and church and as a community volunteer. This is an important question because to be an effective board member a person must be willing to do the “homework” preparation before committee and regular board meetings. Today (Jan. 28) I am reviewing and editing 21 proposed policy revisions in preparation for tonight’s policy committee meeting.
What’s your connection to the school?
My three adult sons had their entire public-school education, K through 12, in the Marshfield School District. My current connections to the school include my activities as a current board member, and I volunteer every Tuesday morning helping first graders at Grant School.
What specifically motivates you to seek this position?
Career-building, child-rearing, home-establishing, these phases of my life are completed. Now retired, I am turning my energies towards serving others and serving my community. My wife and I are grateful for the quality education of our three sons received from the Marshfield school system. I can repay the favor by serving the students, parents and taxpayers of the Marshfield School District. I believe strongly that education is one of the foundational pillars of our American society. Excellent education is crucial to our country’s success. Moreover, communities with excellent schools attract young families who contribute to vibrant communities.
Why are you running for school board and what are your qualifications?
The previous question addressed my motivation; here I will address my qualifications. I worked 42 years in scientific research, 31 years as laboratory director. As research leader I directed large, collaborative, multi-center, research projects. It taught me how to plan and organize, manage personnel, stay within budget, resolve disputes, make decisions based on data and communicated from different points of view. I have extensive experience on other types of boards, having served numerous scientific advisories boards for state and federal agencies and on editorial boards for scientific journals. I know how to do the hard work of a board.
How do you approach working with people you strongly disagree with?
As a representative of the public a school board member’s job is to listen to all views and perspectives. I’ve dealt with many controversial topics in my research career. I learned not just to listen, but also actively seek input from others, especially those less likely to speak up. I am also comfortable with the emergence of new input, new information, that results in changing course in the decision-making process. Consensus Building is not an easy task, but as long as everyone keeps their eye on the objective and remain free of personal attacks, it can be accomplished.
What is one thing about yourself that the public might not know, but should?
Since last September I have been volunteering every Tuesday morning in a first-grade classroom at Grant School. I have learned so much about instruction methods, expectations for the students, the use of technology in the classroom, and the challenges the teachers face daily. The experience gives me valuable insights into being a more informed board member. Plus, the kids are an absolute joy. My wife says I come home beaming after my class time. Even if I lose the election I will continue volunteering until the end of the school year.
How do you want to be remembered after your time on the board ends?
I want to be remembered as a collegial, collaborative, fair, student-centered, productive board member.
What changes would you like to work on during the upcoming term?
1) Improve 4th grade reading scores. Statewide, 51% of fourth graders score proficient in reading; 64% of Marshfield 4th graders are proficient. While Marshfield scores higher than the state, it’s not praiseworthy that a third of our 4th graders can’t read well.
2) Better communication between District administration and taxpayers. Staff are already stretched thin and have little time to work on communication products. The board should consider an ad hoc work group, including community members, to find communication solutions.
3) Better understanding among taxpayers of how school funding works in Wisconsin. The Board could do a better job of explaining this important component of property taxes.
What are the top needs of your school district?
There are numerous issues, for example, student mental health, student safety, reading proficiency, and teacher retention, to name a few. The most pressing, in my opinion, is school funding. State aid for schools is not keeping up with inflation, especially the cost of health care. State legislators are unlikely to fix school funding without pressure from constituents, and constituents are unlikely to apply pressure because the formulas for funding is mind-numbing and excessively complicated. While at the Marshfield School District is now fiscally sound, rising costs and tough decisions are not far on the horizon.
How will you address the different needs of all the students?
I recognize that every student is unique; they have different learning styles, different life goals, different family situations. The district’s goal should be to provide sufficient opportunities (academic, technical, extracurricular, social, wellness) that every student feels they belong. Studies show students learn best when they have some sense of ownership of their school, that they belong there.
Are you able to prioritize this role among your other professional and personal responsibilities?
While I have obligations outside of my control, I am fully committed to fulfilling the duty of this role. I currently run my own business and serve in the armed forces, which have strengthened my time management, discipline, and the ability to prioritize effectively.
What is your connection to the school?
I am a 2014 graduate of the Marshfield School District, and my experience as a student has given me a lasting connection to this district and community.
What specifically motivates you to seek this position?
I am motivated to seek this position because I believe greater transparency and accessibility are essential to maintaining trust between the school district, students, and the community. Currently, district meetings are only live streamed and not recorded, which limits access for community members who are unable to attend in real time. Ensuring meetings are recorded and easily available would allow citizens to stay informed and make thoughtful, informed decisions when the time comes. I want to help strengthen communication, accountability, and community engagement within the district.
Why are you running for school board and what are your qualifications?
I am running for school board because I believe greater transparency and accessibility are essential to maintaining trust between the school district, students, and the community. I want to help strengthen communication, accountability, and community engagement within the district so community members can make informed decisions and feel confident in district leadership.
In terms of qualifications, I bring strong leadership, discipline, and organizational skills developed through my service in the military, where I continue to serve actively. This experience has taught me how to work collaboratively, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and remain accountable to those I serve.
How do you approach working with people you strongly disagree with?
I understand that disagreements are a normal and healthy part of effective governance. I approach differences by having respectful, open conversations to understand where perspectives diverge and why. From there, I focus on addressing the underlying issues and finding common ground. Ultimately, our shared goal is to better serve our community and the students in this district, and I believe keeping that focus allows productive collaboration even when we strongly disagree.
What is one thing about yourself that the public might not know, but should?
One thing the public may not know about me is that I swore into the U.S. Army in 2019. Through my Oath of Enlistment, I committed myself to serve with integrity, accountability, and dedication to the greater good. Just as the oath requires soldiers to play duty above personal interest, school board service requires acting in the best interests of students, families, and the community as a whole. My military service has reinforced the importance of ethical decision-making, respect for differing viewpoints, and responsibility to the people I serve, all of which guide how I would approach service to the school board.
How do you want to be remembered after your time on the board ends?
I want to be remembered as a school board member who put students and the community first, worked to improve transparency and accessibility, and was not afraid to ask hard questions in the interest of accountability. I hope to be seen as someone who listened respectfully, worked collaboratively even through disagreements, and helped strengthen trust between the district and the community members. Above all, I want my service to reflect integrity, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to doing what is right for our students, staff and community members.
What changes would you like to work on during the upcoming term?
During the upcoming term, I would like to work on improving transparency and accessibility within the district, particularly by ensuring school board meetings are recorded and easily accessible for the public to view. I also want to strengthen communication between the district, students, families and community members so concerns and ideas are heard and addressed more effectively. Additionally, I would work to support accountability in decision-making and encourage collaborative problem-solving that keeps students’ needs at the center of every discussion.
How will you address the different needs of all students?
I believe addressing the different needs of all students starts with listening and ensuring their voices are being heard. I want to strengthen transparency and communication, so students, families, and educators feel comfortable raising concerns and sharing ideas with the school board. Additionally, I want students to understand how to self-advocate and know that they do have a voice. Encouraging students to attend school board meetings, share their perspectives, and speak up when their voices are not being heard helps ensure decisions reflect the real experiences of those most impacted. By promoting accessibility, accountability and open dialogue, we can better serve the diverse needs of every student in the district.
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