LUXEMBURG, WI (WTAQ) – The Luxemburg-Casco School District has selected its next leader.
Dr. Jo-Ellen Fairbanks was announced as the next superintendent on Friday. She is currently the superintendent of the Cochrane-Fountain City School District along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border.
“The teachers and teacher leaders were just so impressive. teachers were involved in every aspect of the interview process, and I got to meet so many people. Everybody is very positive, very bridge, and very passionate about the school, the community, and the students,” Fairbanks told WTAQ News. “Everybody is so passionate about what they do. Everybody is very forward thinking, and they’re thinking about creating opportunities for students, they’re always working on what is best for students…I didn’t run into any kind of negative vibe. Everybody is just positive and forward thinking.”
Fairbanks was also impressed by the strong community support backing the district.
“The amount of support that the community has shown, not just in words, but in actions by the referendum and support that they have shown the district really shows how much they care for kids,” Fairbanks said. “It takes everybody to be able to create opportunities for kids. the school can’t do it alone. we need the community and business support.”
Fairbanks has been involved in education in Wisconsin for about three decades. A native of Greenfield, she has a bachelor’s degree in secondary science education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master’s degree from National-Louis University and a doctorate from UW-Madison.
In addition to Cochrane-Fountain City, Fairbanks has held administrative positions with the CESA 9 academic agency, the Beloit school district, Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids and the Adams-Frienship school district and Portage High School/Academy of Achievement. Fairbanks also has experience in business, operating Melt Chocolat in Plainfield from 2021-20.
Fairbanks begins in Luxemburg-Casco on July 1. She succeeds Glenn Schlender, who is retiring.
