NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – The Neenah Joint School District’s Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday to announce the appointment of the district’s next superintendent.
Officials have named Dr. Steve Harrison the next superintendent of the Neenah Joint School District, following the Board of Education’s approval.
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Harrison comes to Neenah from the Appleton Area School District, where he has worked since 2015. His official title with the Appleton Area School District was the Assistant Superintendent for Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction.
“In many ways, this feels like I’m coming home,” said Harrison, whose mother, Barb, was a reading specialist at Spring Road Elementary School in Neenah from 1981 to 2003. “I spent a lot of time in my mom’s classroom while growing up, and it fueled my desire to work in education. It’s exciting to come back to a district that has given so much to my family. It’s really a dream come true.”
Harrison will replace Dr. Mary Pfeiffer, who is retiring after 15 years as the Neenah Superintendent. Harrison will begin his duties on July 1.
“Steve brings a fresh vision and energy to Neenah,” Board of Education president Brian Epley said. “His strong background in curriculum and instruction set him apart as a candidate. He also brings an inclusive mindset to build a connected culture across the entire District.”
Harrison was an Assistant Principal at Oshkosh West High School for two years and also taught science at Oshkosh North and West High Schools from 2003-13. He began his teaching career as a science teacher at Badger High School in Lake Geneva in 2000. Harrison holds a Ph.D. from Cardinal Stritch University and a Master’s Degree from UW-Milwaukee and UW-Oshkosh. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Bacteriology from UW-Madison. Harrison has been an ad-hoc instructor at UW-Oshkosh since 2015.
“I’m really looking forward to connecting with students, families, and community members to build a foundation of trust and transparency,” said Harrison, noting his experience supporting students and staff at all levels of education from early childhood through high school. “Neenah is a special place, and it’s where I want to finish my career in education.”
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Harrison is the 10th superintendent in the Neenah Joint School District since E.M. Beeman was the inaugural superintendent hired in 1903. The search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea, and Associates assisted with the process. The firm organized community focus groups and surveys and held a “Day in the District” for each of the three finalists.
Harrison lives in Winneconne with his wife, Margo. They have four children: Grant (21), Will (19), Dayne (18), and Olivia (11).
