Muskego principal, administrator swap jobs

Muskego - Lakeview Elementary School Principal Dawn Marisch will not be well enough by fall to return to her duties, due to a sudden medical emergency that almost took her life last month.

Muskego-Norway School District officials do not expect her back full time until late December. That leaves Lakeview without stable leadership for the fall, said Superintendent Joe Schroeder.

The solution that the School Board found and approved is for Marisch and former Lakeview principal Alan Groth to switch jobs.

Groth was Lakeview's principal for nine years before becoming director of student learning in 2007. And he had an excellent record of success, Schroeder said. Groth has forged strong relationships with Lakeview families, he wrote in a letter to Lakeview parents last week.

And Marisch has good potential to be successful in a curriculum and instruction role at the district level, he wrote, saying "Mrs. Marisch is an excellent learning leader."

And the position of director of student learning gives flexibility for a gradual return to work as opposed to the job of principal with its daily demands, Schroeder said.

Marisch will report to Tammy Kapp, director of school performance. Kapp and Groth had co-led curriculum and instruction efforts. Now Kapp will be the primary leader, Schroeder said.

Groth said he is thankful for the chance to serve as director of student learning over the past four years alongside what he termed an administrative team and School Board committed to excellence. But he is happy to go where he is needed.

"I am also honored to return to the principalship at Lakeview Elementary School to allow Mrs. Marisch the time she needs to fully recuperate from her illness," Groth said.

He is looking forward to working with the Lakeview staff and to implementing the district's new K-4 reading units and other district initiatives, he said.

At Lakeview, he will still be able to do the things that he loves, he said.

"One thing will always remain constant, kids have been central to all my work … and I look forward to supporting every student's learning success at Lakeview Elementary," he said.

The switch will likely be permanent, Groth said, as it would be hard to switch back again.

Groth was slated to start at Lakeview last week.