Oconto Falls High School Principal Stuart Russ has been chosen as the school district’s next superintendent.
The school board announced March 11 that Russ, now in his second year as principal at OFHS, will succeed Dean Hess, who is retiring at the end of June after 10 years at the helm.
Russ started his teaching career in the Luxemburg-Casco School District, moving to the Rosendale-Brandon School District and then entering administration as an assistant principal at Shawano Community High School. He was principal of Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School before taking the post at OFHS in 2023.
He and Lena Superintendent Ben Pytleski were called back for final interviews with the board March 10. The board met in closed session to make the decision after its regular monthly meeting that evening.
“Stuart’s multifaceted experience, coupled with his recent tenure as the Oconto Falls High School principal, make him well-positioned to lead our district into the future,” said Clint Gardebrecht. board president. “His collaborative approach and demonstrated leadership skills will advance our long history of excellence in education.”
In a news release, the board said it employed a consensus-based selection process, facilitated by the executive search firm McPherson and Jacobson LLC.
“The process included significant input from students, staff and community members during earlier phases of the search,” the announcement read. “This collaborative approach helped identify the best candidate to lead the district into the future. We are incredibly grateful for the community’s participation and the expertise of McPherson and Jacobson.”
The board also cited Russ’ “dedication to student well-being, his commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments, and his proven ability to collaborate effectively with staff and community members” as factors in his selection.
Russ tabbed as new Oconto Falls superintendent
