Vicky Haas to retire at end of school year

Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School principal Vicky Haas is set to retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Haas reflected on her 14 years in the school district.

“I always had in my mind that I did not want to stay too long,” said Haas. “In every profession, there are people that stay on a little longer than they should. This is a job that requires a lot of energy and hours. As I could feel myself slowing down a little bit, I thought it was time to have someone else take the baton.”

In her retirement, Haas is still looking for hobbies to fill time, but she will spend a lot more time with family.

“I need to do something, I don’t feel like I am done, I just don’t know where the road is going to take me yet,” said Haas. “My passion has been to work with students who are struggling to read, so that may be an option.”

Haas started teaching as a fourth-grade teacher in Milwaukee in 1994. After Milwaukee, she and her family moved to Marion, where she was a reading specialist and taught first and second grade. In 2007, Haas accepted the position of curriculum director and reading specialist in the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District. From there she became the principal of the Wittenberg Elementary-Middle School.

“I had no intentions of leaving Marion — I thought that I was going to retire there,” said Haas. “Wittenberg gave me a bigger opportunity. It is a bigger school district, with more kids and a bigger chance to make an impact.”

With her time in Milwaukee and Wittenberg, Haas said that she noticed some differences between the two areas.

“One of the biggest things is, because I went to a Milwaukee-based college, I was prepared for diversity of populations,” said Haas. “Coming up to a smaller district, it has taken more time for that diversity of our student population to be reflected. It has always done me well to have that background as the student population is changing.”

She noted that in a smaller school district, there is an easier opportunity to have personal relationships with superintendents and other staff.

“In a big city like Milwaukee, I had never had gone to a school board meeting,” said Haas. “I would have never known another reading specialist in the district.”

Superintendent Garrett Rogowski spoke on the impact that Haas has had in the school district.

“Vicky has been instrumental in supporting and leading our district’s literacy initiative, along with Jackie Berndt,” said Rogowski. “She has been a true advocate of advancing all students’ academic and personal growth.”

He also noted that in her time in the school district, Haas has helped to make sure that her staff are in a position to succeed.

“Vicky has led her staff with a very caring and supportive leadership approach,” said Rogowski. “She has worked very hard to foster their professional growth and give them the tools and confidence they need to be their very best.”

Reflecting on her time as an administrator, Haas noted that there are differences between being a principal and a teacher.

“As a teacher, I was always a primary teacher — that classroom was my family,” said Haas. “As a reading specialist, it became more broad because I was worrying if all the students were reaching benchmarks. The biggest change that I saw taking the job as a principal was that the family became the entire school, as opposed to one class.”

Haas noted that a big part of her education career was to be caring and to try and make an impact in people’s lives.

“When I first took the position of principal, I wanted to be a principal that I would like to work with,” said Haas. “I have spent a lot of time with staff working on things like positive behavior initiatives. There are times where I have to be tough, but there are also times where I have to sit back and just listen, whether it be an adult or a student.”

She added that she has tried to make school a comfortable place for students and staff.

“I tell everyone that my job as a principal is to keep everyone safe,” said Haas.

Throughout her time in education, Haas noticed that she is stronger than she thought.

“There are tough times that have happened in my career,” said Haas. “I feel that my empathy and compassion have helped me. I realized that emotional connections are what I bring to the table and that will take me where I need to go.”

Haas summed up her time in Wittenberg in a positive light.

“I feel like I have had a great opportunity to be a part of the community and meet a lot of people,” said Haas. “It is wonderful to see the kids and how they are improving through school. This has become a second home for me. It will forever be a part of who I am.”

Clintonville STEAM teacher Nick Firari will be taking over for Haas starting in the 2022-23 school year.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com