Nowak new leader for Tigerton schools

A new face will be overseeing the Tigerton School District this year, and, it is one with roots in the Shawano County area which go back to the carefree and bygone experiences of childhood.

Douglas Nowak, 61, is now the district’s new superintendent. He took on the role at the beginning of August, succeeds Kelley Strike, who recently resigned, and has a past in Shawano County which includes graduating from Bonduel High School and being raised in Navarino, too.

“What interested me in applying for Tigerton was, this was an opportunity to come back home if you will,” Nowak said in a phone interview Aug. 15. “I have a familiarity with the Shawano County area. There are a lot of fond memories, my mother is still alive and living in the county and it feels very homey. I have been here for two weeks now and people are extremely inviting.”

Nowak has been in education for 25 years. He has spent the last 16 as an administrator and has worked in areas like Waupaca, Denmark and the Albany School District and got into the work because of a family member. Essentially, Nowak got to witness his wife’s first year in teaching when they got married, and her sentiment motivated him to follow her into the career in addition.

“Watching her, obviously from a bit of a distance, I could see how rewarding it was for her,” Nowak said. “This was part of my impetus to begin going to college and become a teacher.”

As part of the hiring process, Nowak said he first had to reach out to the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 8 before being interviewed by the board. This organization is one of 12 umbrella groups for school districts in Wisconsin, and, after moving from them to speaking with the board members for the district, Nowak says he felt good and emerged very excited for more.

“I felt extremely well and like I had a connection with them,” he said. “I don’t know if there was any other kind of emotion. They were very responsive to questions I had and at the conclusion I felt very good about the potential and us having a good working relationship. It seemed great.”

This strong energy is something Nowak hopes to continue with district policy as he settles in and begins meeting students and families as well. He wants to continue the upward trajectory of the district’s finances as reflected in the recently-passed referendum, wants to follow the educational ideas of professor John Hattie who has theorized what works best for students is similar to what works best for teachers — like being clear about what success is — and said all is even good already.

“Work began before I came here,” he said. “I want it to continue and make sure staff have information at the ready if you will so we can be the best we can be (for students and parents).”

Strike could not be reached for comment on her decision to exit the district or Nowak thoughts.

evan.pretzer@protonmail.com