WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- The Wausau School Board has trimmed its list of candidates for the Superintendent position from three to two.
Annette Dueman, Superintendent of the Columbus School District, was eliminated following Tuesday’s round of interviews with the board, leaving Dr. Keith W. Hilts, Jr. and Dr. Larry W. Ouimette in the running. Dr. Ouimette is the current Superintendent for the Lac du Flambeau School District. Dr. Hilts holds the same position in the Ashland district.
Final interviews with each candidate will take place on January 29th, with the board aiming for an early February hire.
Dr. Ouimette holds some ties to the Wausau School District, having previously served Horace Mann Middle School from December 1996 to June 2005, first as Vice Principal for two years then Principal for the final seven. He also served one year as a history teacher in the DC Everest High School. He holds a teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and a masters degree and superintendent license from UW Superior. His Doctorate in Education Leadership was earned at Edgewood University in Madison. According to his resume Dr. Ouimette points to an increase in the graduation rate at the Lac Du Flambeau high school from 56% in 2009 to 97% in 2017, the implementation of personalized learning paths for students, and a collaboration with UW Oshkosh on a literacy collaborative that earned statewide recognition as some of his achievements.
As for Dr. Hilts, his undergraduate work was completed in Illinois at both the College of Lake County and Illinois State University in Normal. He went on to the University of Wisconsin Madison for his masters and Cardinal Stritch for his Ph. D in education leadership. His resume lists several teaching and coaching jobs throughout Wisconsin, with leadership positions at Grafton High School where he served as Vice Principal for 5 years and Random Lake where he was the Principal for another 5 years. He’s served as Superintendent at Ashland since 2010. While at Ashland he oversaw a $34 million-dollar buildings referendum, developed three multi-age Charter schools for grades 3-12, and helped guide the staff through the implementation of Act 10.e
According to the district the final interviews will be conducted in two stages. First a Staff/Community Interview Committee and an Administrative Interview Committee will interview the finalists during the afternoon of January 29. Then the board will conduct their own interviews during a closed-session meeting that night. Feed back from those involved in the afternoon meetings will be taken into consideration by the Board in the final decision-making process.
