Halbesma tabbed as new Wheatland principal

New leader comes from Lake Geneva

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

When Wheatland School District posted its principal position in January, it enticed current Lake Geneva Middle School Principal Drew Halbesma to apply.

“I was not actively looking to make a change at this point, but have always told myself that if a K-8 building in our area ever opened up, that I’d have to give it a close look,” Halbesma said.

Drew Halbesma
Drew Halbesma

Halbesma grew up in Yorkville, Ill., where he was a student at a K-8 school.

He was one of 75 who applied, and last month, was chosen as the school’s new leader by the District Leadership Team.

Halbesma is set to start July 1, and fills a void left by Patti Clements, who resigned at the start of the 2015-16 school year to take a Gifted and Talented position with the Kenosha Unified School District.

Since Clements left, the school has operated on leadership-by-committee basis, utilizing staff strengths.
According to Wheatland District Administrator Marty McGinley, the Leadership Team narrowed the field to six and conducted interviews with a panel consisting of parents, students and staff.

The panel selected Halbesma, citing his experience at every level of education, goal-oriented approach and technology education that includes the STEM program.

“I was very impressed with how professional, knowledgeable, and passionate the staff, students and parents were during the interview process,” Halbesma said.

Halbesma, who began his teaching career at Burlington Area School District in 2002, was also an interim principal with BHS.

Since 2010, he has served a variety of roles at the Badger School District.

Halbesma has worked with LGMS faculty and staff on development of a STEM curriculum and a three-year plan of action.

“Bottom line, I feel STEM is a major component of 21st century learning and a key ingredient when it comes to offering students the opportunities to become college and/or career ready when they leave our school system,” said Halbesma, noting his current position.

The full story appears in the April 15 print edition of the Westosha Report


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