The next principal of Weyauwega-Fremont’s middle and high schools is Weyauwega native Jeremy Schroeder.
The School Board unanimously approved hiring Schroeder for the position when it met on Monday, May 20.
“I guess you could call it a dream come true to come back to my hometown. It all started here. It’s a way to give back to the community,” he told the County Post following the meeting.
Schroeder’s starting date is July 1, and his salary will be $75,000.
He will replace Matt Wilbert, who is leaving the W-F district for the Wild Rose School District, where he will be the principal of Wild Rose Elementary.
“We’re very excited to have Mr. Schroeder as our next high school/middle school principal. Through the process, he was our candidate of choice,” said W-F District Administrator Scott Bleck.
There were 35 applicants for the position.
“We narrowed it down to six and then from six to three. Jeremy surfaced as our candidate from the second round of interviews, which took place with our full board. Jeremy’s experience and skill set will contribute to the middle school and high school in positive ways,” Bleck said.
Schroeder is the son of William Schroeder and Robert and Vicki Peltonen.
He attended St. Peter Lutheran School through eighth grade and graduated from W-F High School in 1995.
Schroeder then headed to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he graduated in 2000 with a degree in agricultural education.
“My biggest influence was Sandy Dykes,” he said of his decision to become an agriscience teacher. “She pushed me in a lot of different ways with FFA and community service.”
Dykes is one of several W-F High School teachers who had him as a student and will now be working with him.
Following Schroeder’s graduation from UW-River Falls, he was hired to teach agriscience at Seymour Community High School.
He has been there the last 13 years and also serves as the FFA adviser.
In addition, Schroeder is involved in the community, serving as an EMT, assistant fire chief and on the Outagamie County Fair Association.
Last July, he completed his master’s in educational administration with a principal licensure from Concordia University.
“I’ve enjoyed helping students. Now, I want to take it to the next level,” Schroeder said of his decision to work in administration.
He plans to move back to his hometown and to make the school district his priority, while also supporting community events.
In his free time, Schroeder enjoys fishing, hunting and traveling.
“I still have a lot of family here,” he said. “It’s a great community. I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.”