HSSD Launches STOPIt Anonymous Reporting App

The Howard-Suamico School District has enrolled with STOPit for students and families in grades 7-12 beginning January 21, 2020.

STOPit is an online reporting tool designed to deter and mitigate bullying, cyber abuse, and other inappropriate behaviors, consisting of an app and a back-end incident management system for school administrators. 

Our students will have access to the STOPit mobile app, which has two simple but powerful features.

Report can be used by students to report incidents to school contacts anonymously. 

Messenger can be used to engage in anonymous two-way communication with school contacts.

Both Report and Messenger empower students to stand up for themselves and for one another. They can use STOPit to reach out for help if they or a peer are facing a personal crisis or experiencing bullying, abuse, or are otherwise in need of assistance. Our goal with STOPit is to create safer, kinder, school communities both online and off.

STOPit Parent FAQs

Join us for Coffee with the Superintendent

Join us for Coffee with the Superintendent Friday, October 11 from 7-8 a.m. at a new location this year: Uncle Mike’s Bakery on Lineville Road. We look forward to some caffeine and conversation!

New District Email and Website Extension: @hssdschools.org

As of December 26, 2018 all Howard-Suamico School District staff and student email addresses feature a new extension. The username for each email will remain the same. The new extension for HSSD emails is username@hssdschools.org

We encourage you to check junk and spam folders for all your email accounts (work, home, etc.) to whitelist or approve messages from HSSD.

In addition, our district website address has changed to www.hssdschools.org. The old website address and the old email extensions will remain functional for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year as we complete a transition to the new extensions.

Please direct questions to our Information Services team at helpdesk@hssdschools.org or 920-662-7832.

HSSD Receives $338,920 Second Round Mental Health and School Safety State DOJ Grant

The Howard-Suamico School District was awarded a $338,920 school safety grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced today. The grant is part of the second round of Wisconsin School Safety Initiative supporting projects designed to improve mental health and school safety.

Today’s grant award supplements a $189,385 school safety and security initial grant awarded to HSSD on July 19.

Projects and staff training related to the second round grant award will be initiated beginning during the current 2018-19 school year. The following trainings and related expenses for HSSD were approved and funded:

• Trauma Sensitive Schools
• DOJ Adolescent Mental Health
• Threat Assessment Team
• Supportive School Communities Institute
• Building the Hearts of Successful Schools
• Universal Social & Emotional Curriculum, grades K-12
• Sandy Hook Promise “Signs of Suicide” programs
• Multi-Level Systems of Support consultation and trainings

Walker and Wiebel Join HSSD Leadership Team

The Howard-Suamico School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Becky Walker and Mr. Jonathan (Jo) Wiebel to its administrative leadership team. Dr. Walker will serve as the Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Innovation and Mr. Wiebel will join the Bay Port High School staff as an Associate Principal.

“Becky demonstrates a passionate commitment to coaching, development, and innovation in schools,” said HSSD Superintendent Damian LaCroix. “Her 20 years of leadership experience will be a tremendous asset for our staff, students, and community.”

Dr. Walker joins HSSD following three years as the Director of Learning Services at CESA 7 in Green Bay, serving 38 school districts throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Prior to her leadership role at CESA, Walker was an administrator for the Appleton Area School District for 18 years, serving as Director of Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction as well as an Associate Principal and Principal of Appleton East High School and the Tesla Engineering Charter.

“I am humbled and excited to lead learning for Howard-Suamico School District and to join such an amazing community,” said Walker. “I look forward to collaborating with educators, students, and families around flexible, innovative learning with goals of high expectations and success for all.”

Walker earned her Doctorate in Educational Administration and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Marian University. She completed her undergraduate degree at St. Norbert College in Mathematics, Computer Science, Spanish, and Education.

Mr. Wiebel joins the leadership team at Bay Port High School following 10 years as an administrator in the Green Bay Area Public School District, including the last six years as Principal of Edison Middle School. He earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he also completed his undergraduate degree in Public Administration.

“Jo brings a wealth of teaching and administrative experience at the middle and high school levels,” said LaCroix. “We anticipate his perspective and instructional leadership will have a significant impact at Bay Port.”

“I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to join the students and staff at Bay Port,” said Wiebel. “I look forward to joining the Pirate Nation and building relationships within the Howard-Suamico community.”

Both leaders will fill their respective positions beginning July 1, 2018. Due to past budget reductions, the District’s Assistant Superintendent position had been vacant since 2017, while the Bay Port Associate Principal position had remained unfilled since 2011.

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Smith Named Howard-Suamico Education Foundation Director

The Howard-Suamico Education Foundation (HSEF) Board is pleased to announce the selection of Nicole Smith as its first full-time Director. Founded in 1992 to provide financial support for teaching and learning in the Howard-Suamico School District, the HSEF identifies and cultivates community champions for the purposes of funding innovative projects, leadership development, educational enrichment and scholarship programs that benefit HSSD students.

In her new role, Smith will develop and nurture relationships with the community, businesses, families, and staff to create engagement in the purpose and vision of the foundation. She will oversee day-to-day operations of the foundation and serve as the liaison between the foundation board and the district.

“I am grateful for the community support of our schools and for the continued gifts of time and talent on our HSEF board,” said Smith. “I look forward to working with the board and our community to provide opportunities for students and staff to reach their full potential.”

“We are excited to have Nicole serve in this leadership role as an educator and a Bay Port alumna.” said HSEF vice-president Jayne McQuillan. “Our board is a growing group of passionate and engaged volunteers. Nicole’s vision and dedication will expand the influence and impact of the HSEF in our district and community.”

The HSEF will welcome Smith to the Director role July 2 following 10 years as a teacher in the Howard-Suamico School District, most recently on the Gifted and Talented team with whom she was a Golden Apple award recipient last year. Smith began her teaching career in third grade at Meadowbrook Elementary. She is a 2008 St. Norbert College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and is also a 2004 graduate of Bay Port High School.

Smith and her husband, Billy, own and operate Bearcat’s Fish House in Algoma, Wis. They are proud parents of two daughters and a son.

 

Garceau Named HSSD Director of Pupil Services

The Howard-Suamico School District is pleased to announce the promotion of Ms. Jennifer Garceau to Director of Pupil Services, effective July 1, 2018. Ms. Garceau has served as an educator in HSSD for 18 years, including the last four years as Associate Director of Pupil Services.

“Jennie is passionate about supporting the learning potential of every child,” said Superintendent Damian LaCroix. “She has the right blend of character, competence, and chemistry to add significant long-term value to HSSD.”

Ms. Garceau began her tenure in the District as a special education teacher, team leader and department chair at Bay View Middle School for 14 years. As an administrator in the Pupil Services department she has led networking with administration, staff, students, families, and community agencies to ensure that best practices in the area of special education are being implemented; planned and delivered professional development to both teachers and support staff; and guided District-level teams in evidence-based best practices including co-teaching, alternative education planning, and implementing tiers of support for learners. Ms. Garceau also serves as an adjunct professor for the Viterbo University Graduate Program specializing in inclusionary practices for diverse learners.

“I am honored and excited to serve and lead in this role,” said Garceau. “I look forward to continued collaboration with the staff, students, and families of Howard-Suamico.”

Ms. Garceau will assume the post being vacated when current director Jerry Wieland retires in June 2018.

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Pupil Nondiscrimination Self-Evaluation: Legal Notice

The Howard-Suamico School District provides assurance that no student is discriminated against because of the student’s sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.

The District is currently conducting a self-evaluation of its status of pupil nondiscrimination.  Residents of the community have an opportunity to provide comments in regard to the following areas of student activity:

• Methods, practices, curriculum and materials used in instruction, counseling, and pupil assessment and testing.
• Participation trends and patterns and school district support of athletic, extracurricular and recreational activities.
• Trends and patterns in awarding scholarships and other forms of recognition and achievement provided or administered by the district.

If you wish to review a draft of the self-evaluation, or provide any comments, please contact:

Jerry Wieland
Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services
2706 Lineville Road
Green Bay, WI  54313
920-662-8116
jerowiel@hssd.k12.wi.us

Any requests for comments, or to review current findings should be provided no later than May 7, 2017.

Damian LaCroix Named 2017 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year

 

The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators is pleased to announce the selection of Damian LaCroix as Wisconsin’s 2017 Superintendent of the Year.

LaCroix has served for 12 years as the Superintendent for the Howard-Suamico School District (HSSD), a high-performing Pre-K-12 district serving 6,100 students in Northeast Wisconsin. His vision for public education has resulted in the development of innovative student programming aimed at ensuring that all students are college, career, and citizenship ready.

Under LaCroix’s leadership, HSSD won the Proficiency Award from the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence, Bay Port High School has been recognized nationally by Newsweek and the Washington Post as one of the top high schools in America, and two elementary schools have been acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award winners. Furthermore, in the past five years he has mentored team members to high levels of professional achievement including the Wisconsin Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Business Official of the Year, and the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association Lighthouse award.

His partnership with community supporters has contributed to successful referenda efforts for school facilities totaling $60 million during his career. Additionally, more than $2.5 million has been recently raised through stakeholder donations for targeted community and educational causes such as the Giving Tree Food Pantry and the Howard-Suamico Education Foundation.

While it is recognized nationally for its work toward a digital transformation of teaching and learning as a charter member of the League of Innovative Schools, HSSD is also highly-regarded for its collaborative and innovative staff. With enrollment growth up 25% over the course of LaCroix’s tenure, HSSD has become a destination District for students and teachers alike.

In the nomination for Superintendent of the Year, Howard-Suamico Board of Education President Mark Ashley discussed the leadership qualities and the drive LaCroix possesses.

“The Board of Education is extremely pleased that Damian was chosen as the Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year,” said Ashley. “We believe this award reflects the genuine desire he shares with our dedicated educators: to serve our students, to provide hope, and to offer a 21st century education.”

Ashley said LaCroix inspires the community to support its schools. “Damian’s consistent engagement with the community and our business partners has established an unprecedented level of support for public education in Howard-Suamico.”

“This award honors the collaborative efforts of our Board of Education, District staff, families, and community in preparing our children for their future,” said LaCroix. “I am humbled to serve in public education and I am grateful for this recognition of exemplary work being done throughout our District every day.”

LaCroix noted community support for public education as a cornerstone of HSSD’s success. “Our community truly inspires the District ethos of Serving, Learning, and Achieving – Together,” LaCroix said. “In turn, our schools and the students we serve reflect the values of our community.”

A lifelong educator, LaCroix began his career as a high school Social Studies teacher for the Pulaski Community School District in 1991. He later served as an associate principal and principal at Pulaski High School before joining HSSD as principal of Suamico Elementary in 2002. He was named HSSD Superintendent of Schools three years later.

LaCroix served as chair of the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators large district caucus. He is an advisory board representative for the League of Innovative Schools, served in a similar capacity for EdLeader21, and a participates in the Educational Research and Development Institute. He has also served as a member of numerous business and civic organizations serving the greater Green Bay area, including the Chamber of Commerce Partners in Education Board, the Green Bay Community Church Elder Board, the Howard-Suamico Business Professional Association, Achieve Brown County, and the New North Regional Economic Development Board.

LaCroix earned his Bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University where he is enshrined in the Athletic Hall of Fame following an All-America football career. He completed his Master’s Degree from Marian University and earned his specialist’s certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

LaCroix resides in Suamico with his wife, Melissa. They are the proud parents of four children: Maxwell (20), Zachariah (17), Abraham (16), and Abigail (15).

About the Howard-Suamico School District
Founded in 1961, the Howard-Suamico School District encompasses 53 square miles in one of the most popular and attractive areas of Wisconsin. Located in the villages of Howard and Suamico – just eight miles northwest of Green Bay’s historic Lambeau Field – the district serves approximately 6,100 students in eight schools and 10 community-based four-year-old kindergarten sites, making it the 25th-largest school district in the state of Wisconsin. The HSSD vision, mission and beliefs can best be summarized by the motto: Serving, Learning, Achieving – Together. For more information about the Howard-Suamico School District, follow us on Twitter (@HSSD) or visit www.hssd.k12.wi.us.

About the Superintendent of the Year Award
Since its inception 30 years ago, the Superintendent of the Year program has become widely acknowledged as the most prestigious honor a school system leader can attain.  Applicants are measured against criteria such as successfully meeting the needs of students; personal and organizational communication; professionalism; participation in local community activities; and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. This award pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead our nation’s public schools.

LaCroix will be representing Wisconsin in the National Superintendent of the Year Program, which is sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), VALIC and Aramark, at AASA’s National Conference on Education in New Orleans in March. The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators will be presenting the 2017 Wisconsin Superintendent of the Year award to LaCroix at the joint WASB/WASDA/WASBO Convention in Milwaukee in January.

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HSSD Wins National School Communications Award of Excellence

Suamico, Wis. – The Howard-Suamico School District was one of six districts nationwide to earn a National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Publications and Electronic Media Award of Excellence in Social Media, the organization announced this summer. The HSSD Week in Review Social Media Update was cited for its positive outcomes in four critiqued areas: goals and objectives, research and planning, execution and evaluation, and results.

NSPRA’s Publications and Electronic Media Awards recognize outstanding education publications and marketing/informational materials (print and electronic), video/TV/radio programs, social media and websites. The 2016 award marks the second straight year HSSD was honored for excellence among its national peers. The Upward Together Education Campaign print materials won an award of excellence in the Special Purpose Publication category in 2015.

“Our teachers and principals do exceptional work sharing good news from school every day,” said District Communications Coordinator Brian Nicol. “We embrace Social Media in our District as a way to tell our story and it is humbling to be recognized among the nation’s best.”

About NSPRA: The National School Public Relations Association is a non-profit professional association that is recognized as the leader in school communication. Founded in 1935, NSPRA provides school public relations and communication training and services to education leaders throughout North America and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide. Visit www.nspra.org or follow @NSPRA on Twitter.

About the Howard-Suamico School District: Founded in 1961, the Howard-Suamico School District encompasses 53 square miles in one of the most popular and attractive areas of Wisconsin. Located in the villages of Howard and Suamico – just eight miles northwest of Green Bay’s historic Lambeau Field – the district serves approximately 6,100 students in eight schools and 10 community-based four-year-old kindergarten sites, making it the 26th-largest school district in the state of Wisconsin. The HSSD vision, mission and beliefs can best be summarized by the motto: Serving, Learning, Achieving – Together. For more information about the Howard-Suamico School District, follow us on Twitter (@HSSD) or visit www.hssd.k12.wi.us.