Retirees

Congratulations
to Our 2015-16
Retirees
“There is a whole new kind of life ahead,
full of experiences just waiting to happen.
Some call it ‘retirement.’ I call it bliss.”
Betty Sullivan

The most successful leader is one who sees another picture not yet actualized. A leader
sees the things which belong in the present picture, but which are not yet there. A leader
helps co-workers see that it is not an individual purpose to be achieved, but a common
purpose born of the desire and activities of the group. AWSA salutes these members who
have retired from the education profession.
Paul Churchill
Position held at retirement: K-12 Principal, Transportation Director,
Buildings & Grounds, Plum City School District
Years in Education: 34
Career highlights: When you are a K-12 principal in a small school district
you wear many hats. I spent all my years working for the Plum City School
District. I started as the MS/HS Agriculture Teacher and FFA advisor. I
coached football, basketball, and track. Football 5 years as assist, 2 years
as head coach, Basketball 5 years as assist, 15 years as head coach with 2
trips to the WIAA State Tournament, and head track coach for 13 years.
After 17 years as a teacher and coach in the district, I was hired as the
MS/HS Principal. I coached off and on during my time as principal, but only when the district was
unable to find a suitable replacement. I had 5 children that attended Plum City schools and watching
all my children participate in athletics, music, and FFA were very rewarding as a father.
Post-retirement plans: I have built a retirement home and look forward to spending more time
with my wife Dawn and my 5 children and 4 grand children. I will enjoy time on the family farm
and hopefully find time to travel, golf, hunt, and go fishing. After 6 months, I would like to try some
different jobs now that I am retired from education.
Biff Hansen
Position held at retirement: Associate Principal, Manitowoc School
District
Years in Education: 39
Career highlights: 10 years Associate Principal at Manitowoc Lincoln
High School, 29 years ID/LD/EBD teacher for the Manitowoc Public
Schools and 30 years as a football coach for the Shipbulder program.
Post-retirement plans: Off road bike the state and sing rock and roll till
Springsteen retires.
Robin Harvey
Position held at retirement: Principal at Garfield Elementary, Marinette School District
Years in Education: 19
Career highlights: I was Principal at the elementary school I attended as a child.
Post-retirement plans: I plan to spend lots of time in the Keweenaw Peninsula with my husband
and the rest with my future granddaughter.

Gregory Kaster
Position held at retirement: Elementary Principal, School District of
Marshfield
Years in Education: 25
Career highlights: 5-8th Science Teacher (5 years); Elementary
Assistant Principal/Principal (23 years); 3 weeks in Japan (Fulbright
grant Winner); Elementary China Immersion Program (2 weeks at
Madison Elementary School)
Post-retirement plans: No plans yet!
David LaBorde
Position held at retirement: Principal, Waukesha School District
Years in Education: 42
Career highlights: 32 Years as high school administrator. 25 in Wisconsin and 7 in California
Post-retirement plans: Stay active in my profession.
Keary Martin Mattson
Position held at retirement: K12 Principal/Superintendent, Gresham
School District
Years in Education: 43
Career highlights: 1974-1993 Hortonville School District - K-8 Physical
Education, Health; 1993-1997 University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Director
of Athletic Development; Assistant Intramural Director; Assistant Men’s
Basketball Coach 1997-2007 Marion School District - High School
Principal; 2007-2016 Gresham School District - K12 Principal and
Superintendent
Post-retirement plans: Absolutely nothing, but golf, fish, and work around
the house for the first year. After that - uncertain!
Jennifer McDonough
Position held at retirement: Associate Principal, Eau Claire Area Schools
Years in Education: 25
Career highlights: Teacher of Emotionally Behaviorally Disordered
Students - Altoona Middle School and High School; Associate Principal -
Eau Claire North High School and Eau Claire South Middle School.
Post-retirement plans: Spend time with my husband and hounds, be more
involved in my community and have some time to pursue my interests.

Matthew J. “Mogey” McDonough
Position held at retirement: Junior/Senior High School Principal, School
District of Cadott Community
Years in Education: 31
Career highlights: I taught at the middle level for 11 years, worked as
a Dean of Students/ Assistant Principal for 5 years. Worked as a Junior/
Senior High School Principal for 15 years. I’m most proud of working
with staff to develop a number of Advanced Placement and high level
courses that allowed students to earn college/transcripted credit through
the dual credit option at our school. Worked with staff to develop a strong
intervention/enrichment program to serve all of our students.
Post-retirement plans: I plan to spend more quality time with my wife, Jennifer, doing all of the
things we missed out on as we served the students at our schools. We plan to travel, read, visit
family/friends, enjoy our home on the lake and golf course, exercise regularly and, generally, slow
down the day to day pace!
Cathy Pomaranski
Position held at retirement: Director of Instruction, Elkhorn School
District
Years in Education: 36
Career highlights: 9 years MS teacher in Mukwonago, WI; 5 years
Assistant Principal in Kettle Moraine, WI; 3 years Middle School
Principal in Jewfferson, WI; 19 years Director of Instruction in Elkhorn,
WI.
Post-retirement plans: Travel & spending time with family.
Tom Seidl
Position held at retirement: Plank Road School/Children’s Hospital
Principal, Wauwatosa School District
Years in Education: 32
Greg Zimmerman
Position held at retirement: Principal, grades 6-12, Hillsboro School
District
Years in Education: 31
Career highlights: 9 years as a classroom teacher at Hillsboro; 7 years as
a Middle and High School Principal at Frederic and Osceola; 15 years as
a Middle and High School Principal at Hillsboro.
Post-retirement plans: Student Services Advisor at UW-Richland