Grafton board hires experienced leader to head school

Dana Croatt will be the principal of Woodview Elementary School beginning July 1.

Croatt’s appointment was approved by the School Board Monday. She will succeed Principal Jill Schwenzen, who is leaving the district to become assistant principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Port Washington.

“I’ve heard great things about Woodview,” Croatt told the board Monday. “All the administrators here have been wonderful. All the wonderful things in place here, I look forward to being a part of.”

In a press release, Supt. Jeff Nelson cited the value of Croatt’s extensive experience and track record to the district.

“She is deeply committed to the development of the whole child, and her focus on collaboration, reflective practice and continuous improvement aligns perfectly with our Vision 2030 framework,” he said.

Croatt, who lives in Germantown, has more than 17 years of administrative experience, most recently as principal of Rockfield Elementary School in the Germantown School District, where she spent the last 11 years.

Croatt received her degree in special education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then went on to teach in Connecticut, Arizona and California before she and her family — her husband, now 17-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son — returned to Wisconsin.

“We’re happy to be back in Wisconsin and surrounded by the wonderful people here,” she told the board.

She described herself as a lifelong learner. According to the district, she holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Alverno University, an education specialist degree from Concordia University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California.

Croatt told the board she earned a master’s degree in elementary education so she could obtain a reading endorsement.

“I really wanted to understand more about all students and how they learn,” she said.

As a teacher, Croatt said, she had numerous leadership opportunities, which planted the seeds of a career in administration.

She became principal of Legacy Traditional Schools in Chandler, Ariz., and worked to open a new school there.

“It was an incredible, wonderful experience,” Croatt told the board.

After returning to Wisconsin, she said, she became a principal in the Greenfield School District before joining the Germantown District.

Nelson noted that Croatt was instrumental in Rockfield Elementary School  receiving four “significantly exceeds expectations” ratings on the Wisconsin school report card and noted that the school achieved 100% student growth on the Forward Exam for two consecutive years.

In the release, Croatt said she was attracted to the Grafton position because of the district’s foundation of student success and its reputation as a positive place to learn and grow.

“I value the district’s collaborative approach and commitment to ‘Every Student Every Day,’ ensuring each learner’s needs are met. I am excited to contribute to and build upon the strong culture already in place,” she said.

Croatt was selected for the job following an interview process involving administrators, teachers, support staff and parents, the release stated.

Nelson said that Croatt will introduce herself to staff members at the school on June 11 and begin work in the district on July 1.

Schwenzen, a Port resident, resigned from the Grafton district last month after being hired by the Port-Saukville School Board to fill the middle school post being vacated by Jodi Schwegel, who is retiring.

Schwegel will remain with the Port district through mid-September to assist with the transition and serve as the summer school principal.

Ironically, Schwenzen had been hired as Woodview’s principal when Michael McMahon became director of instruction for the Grafton School District — a position he relinquished to become superintendent of the Port-Saukville School District in 2024.

Schwenzen, who has a background in special education and social work, previously served as an assistant principal at Sheboygan North High School and Bradford High School in Kenosha.