The Oconomowoc High School Administrative Team is pleased to announce that Mr. Derek Nelson has been selected as the new associate principal at OHS. He will replace Mrs. Krista Werchowski who will begin her role as the principal of Nature Hill Intermediate School for the new school year.
Mr. Nelson graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in mathematics and also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is currently serving as a behavioral specialist and mathematics instructional coach at Washington Middle School in Manitowoc. Prior to his role in the Manitowoc Public School District, Nelson held multiple roles in the Peoria Unified School District in Arizona. Those included the district curriculum and assessment team, professional development facilitator, math teacher, and intervention specialist. Nelson's teaching career began in Wisconsin where he worked as a math teacher at both Palmyra-Eagle High School and Lake Mills High School.
In announcing the selection of Mr. Nelson, OHS principal Jason Curtis said, "We are excited to welcome Derek to our Raccoon family this summer! Derek's experiences as a teacher, instructional leader, and coach make him uniquely qualified to help work towards our vision of helping each student become career, college, and life ready. Our team was impressed with Derek's positive interactions with the students, genuine enthusiasm for supporting teachers, and excitement to work in the Oconomowoc community. We have no doubt he will continue to build on the great things happening at OHS and make our school an even better place!"
At OHS, Mr. Nelson will focus on academic and career programming, leading the development of the annual academic and career planning guide and collaborating with OHS staff to manage the course request process and master schedule. He will also lead the high school summer school program, and provide support and supervision for students.
Mr. Nelson shared his enthusiasm by saying, "I'm thrilled to join the staff at Oconomowoc High School. The energy of students and staff is amazing and I cannot wait to be part of that energy and excitement daily, at school events, and in the community. The opportunities for students in extracurricular activities and academic programs are second to none and I look forward to helping students learn and grow through those experiences. Oconomowoc is a special place and I am extremely honored to be a part of the community."
Mr. Nelson will visit OHS to meet students and staff before the conclusion of the school year and formally begin his new role on July 1, 2022.
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