DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – The Unified School District of De Pere has announced Dr. Christopher Thompson as the finalist to become their next superintendent.
Thompson has served as the superintendent in Rosholt since March of 2019. He previously was Rosholt’s assistant superintendent and elementary principal. Before moving to Rosholt, Thompson spent five years as the executive director of curriculum and instruction in the Racine Unified School District, where he also held the positions of elementary principal and assistant principal.
The St. Norbert College grad says the opportunity in De Pere was too big to pass up.
“This is a dream come true for me, to be a Red Bird…I think highly of St. Norbert College, and of the De Pere community. It’s just such a wonderful place to raise a family, and I thought if I ever had the opportunity to be part of that and take part in the great things happening at the Unified School District of De Pere, I would do so,” Thompson told WTAQ News. “It was a dream job to the point where my wife said, ‘Chris, you have to go for this.’ We both wanted to come back to De Pere, so it was a perfect opportunity…”De Pere has great things happening already. It is a high performing school district, so I’m just here to make certain that we continue that great work and support the people that are in place doing what they do day-in and day-out.”
Thompson recognized De Pere as a quickly growing community, and says the district will eventually have to take a look at school settings and discuss things that need to be enhanced – or whether extra space is necessary. His experience dealing with referenda in the past, he thinks, could make an impact when that time comes.
But for now, he wants to learn from others about their hopes for the future of the district.
“I really want to have conversations with the leaders and the teachers before I make any definitive plans, because I think they’re going to help us determine the next step for the district,” Thompson said. “My experience has always been to listen to those who are around you – your teachers, your administrators, your parents. They will point the direction for what’s necessary next, and before I jump in, I just want to have those conversations.”
Thompson earned his doctorate in education at Edgewood College, Madison. He has a master’s degree in education focused on administrative leadership and supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Pending board approval of his contract at its Jan. 3 meeting, Thompson will officially step into the role on July 1st.
Current Superintendent Ben Villarruel announced last year he would retire in July 2022 from the district after 21 years of service.
