Relishing a return to a small school

Recently-hired Ozaukee High School Principal Matt Zavada is enjoying a return to the small town culture he grew to appreciate during his first 19 years in education.

Zavada worked for Kohler High School as a teacher for 16 years and as athletic director for three years before becoming assistant principal at Homestead High School in Mequon.

“I started in a school similar to Ozaukee High that had that small town feel,” he said. “It was something I really appreciated.”

Zavada said he learned from the “rigor”  of administrating a large school like Homestead, noting it had great teachers, students and staff members.

“But, was it different? Yes. You have over 1,000 kids instead of 200,” he said.

At Ozaukee, he’s excited to get to know every teacher and student.

“Relationships are a priority with me,” Zavada said, adding he’s extended an invitation to meet one-on-one with teachers.

During the first month of those meetings, Zavada noticed a recurring message.

“When I ask staff, ‘What is it that we do great?’ A theme that always comes up is the staff, the kids, the people,” he said.

Parents send their kids to district schools knowing they won’t “be lost,” Zavada said, but instead find responsive staff members and friendly students.

As a 17-year district resident with two 11-year-old boys enrolled at Ozaukee Middle School, Zavada said he’s seen how the school’s teachers treat their students like their own kids.

During his tenure at Homestead and Kohler, Zavada coached middle school basketball and high school basketball, football and track and field. He also coached football at Ozaukee High School from 2005 to 2007.

Along with serving as athletic director, he was Kohler’s director of community services, managing the school’s after school and summer care programs.

“When in a small district, you wear a lot of hats and go where you’re needed,” he said. “It’s all about helping kids grow and learn.”

The diversity of his educational experience prepared him for becoming principal, most importantly, by showing him that one decision can affect every department, Zavada said.

He inherits a rocky financial situation at Ozaukee High School. The district, which is facing a $800,000 deficit for the next school year, has experienced two failed operational referendums and is planning a third in November.

With a limited fund balance and Covid-era relief funds tapped out, district officials said, the district will soon have to look at the “real numbers” and consider making reductions to staff or services.

While still learning about what the situation means for the high school, Zavada said, the district’s board and staff make him optimistic.

“What I’ve learned is this school is extremely resourceful. We want to use our funds with a purpose,” he said.

Going into the rigorous interview process, Zavada said, he knew some of the district staff members, like Supt. Dave Karrels, but only as a district parent, not as an educator.

  Zavada is replacing Mike Leach, who is now superintendent of the Raymond School District in Franksville.

“Mike was very open. We spent a lot of time together even prior to my start as principal,” Zavada said.

Spending the last month in the district combing over previous years’ procedures and academic data, Zavada has been building goals for this school year.

His central aim is to build off the strong foundation handed to him, he said.

“I look forward to continuing the rich tradition of excellence that Ozaukee High School has provided to its students and their families,” Zavada said in a message sent to parents.