Martin Leaves Neenah to Take Chilton Superintendent’s Post

By Duke Behnke, The Post-Crescent, Appleton, Wis.

Aug. 16–NEENAH — Claire Martin, director of curriculum and instructional technology for Neenah schools, will be hired as superintendent of the Chilton Public School District effective Sept. 4.

Martin, 51, will replace Steve Patz, who became superintendent of schools in Franklin, a Milwaukee suburb, in July.

“We are really excited about her coming to the district,” Paul Meier, Chilton’s school board president, said Thursday. “We think she has strong skills that will continue to help move our district forward and will help us improve our learning environment.”

Martin said she is looking forward to the challenge of superintendent. Her salary will be $115,000, subject to approval Monday by the Chilton Board of Education.

“I am enthusiastic about this opportunity, to say the least,” she said. “Chilton is a lot like Neenah in that it’s a very high-performing school district.”

Martin has been an administrator for Neenah schools for 10 years. She has a master’s degree in elementary curriculum from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a doctorate in educational administration from Edgewood College in Madison.

Martin’s departure from Neenah will trigger a series of administrative promotions and assignments effective Sept. 1.

Steve Dreger, Neenah’s director of elementary education and principal of Taft Elementary School, will succeed Martin as the school district’s director of curriculum and instructional technology. His salary will be $97,000.

“Mr. Dreger is well prepared to assume the K-12 responsibilities as curriculum director,” Neenah Supt. James Wiswall said.

Diane Galow, principal of Tullar Elementary School, will become interim director of elementary education and principal of Taft for the 2007-08 school year. Her salary will be $92,000.

Wiswall said Galow will work closely with Taft and Hoover Elementary School to prepare for their consolidation in 2008-09.

John Zwirchitz, who recently retired as principal of Hoover, will serve as Tullar principal for the 2007-08 school year. Zwirchitz was Tullar principal from 1990 to 2001. He will be paid $395 a day for a maximum of 200 days.

Nancy Chessman, a math teacher at Horace Mann Middle School, will become principal of Roosevelt Elementary School and Alliance Charter School for the 2007-08 school year.

Chessman has a master’s degree in educational leadership/director of curriculum from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. Her salary will be $73,000.

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