Learning Community Leadership

View all Learning Community 1 schools on a map.

• Browning School  
• Dr. George W. Carver Academy of Mathematics and Science  
• Clement Avenue School  
• Congress School  
• James Fenimore Cooper School  
• Anna F. Doerfler School  
• Fernwood Montessori School  
• Benjamin Franklin School  
• Frederick J. Gaenslen School  
• Hawley Environmental School  
• Milwaukee French Immersion School  
• Milwaukee Sign Language School  
• Rogers Street Academy  
• Siefert School  
• Townsend Street School  
• Escuela Vieau 

Dr. Fiorenza brings nearly 20 years of experience to MPS. She previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning at Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200. Prior to her district-level roles, she was a high school reading teacher, an instructional coach, and a middle school principal and assistant principal.  

Mr. Turner is an MPS alum whose children and grandchildren also attended MPS schools. He is a veteran MPS school leader who most recently served as an instructional leadership director for the district. Mr. Turner manages Learning Communities 1 and 2.    

View all Learning Community 2 schools on a map.

• Academy of Accelerated Learning (AAL)  
• Auer Avenue School  
• Bay View Montessori School  
• William George Bruce School  
• Dr. Benjamin Carson Academy of Science  
• Cass Street School  
• Samuel Clemens School  
• Elm Creative Arts School  
• Engleburg School  
• Forest Home Avenue School  
• La Escuela Fratney 
• Oliver Wendell Holmes School  
• Hopkins Lloyd Community School  
• Gwen T. Jackson Early Childhood and Elementary School  
• Morgandale School  
• Victory School 

Dr. Darrell E. Strong has more than 30 years of experience in urban education and executive leadership. He has served in roles that include teacher, principal, director of secondary school transformation and alternative education, and assistant superintendent for high schools and curriculum and instruction. Prior to joining MPS, Dr. Strong held leadership positions with Hazelwood School District and Kansas City Public Schools, where he helped to improve teaching and learning and expand opportunities for students. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership, commitment to educational excellence, and ability to create systems for ongoing improvement.

Mr. Turner is an MPS alum whose children and grandchildren also attended MPS schools. He is a veteran MPS school leader who most recently served as an instructional leadership director for the district. Mr. Turner manages Learning Communities 1 and 2.    

View all Learning Community 3 schools on a map.

• Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes (ALBA) 
• Brown Street Academy  
• Ralph Waldo Emerson School  
• 53rd Street School  
• U.S. Grant School  
• Hartford Avenue University School  
• Hi-Mount Community School  
• Manitoba School  
• Maple Tree School  
• Marvin E. Pratt Elementary School  
• James Whitcomb Riley Dual Language Montessori School  
• Riverwest Elementary School  
• Gilbert Stuart School  
• Henry David Thoreau School  
• Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies  
• Walt Whitman School 

Dr. Romero-Johnson has worked in education for almost 30 years. She served Spanish-speaking students and families as a paraprofessional, taught mathematics in bilingual programs, and was the principal for Madison’s first two-way immersion school. She most recently served as the Middleton-Cross Planes Area School District’s Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Johnson is the co-author of Advancing Equity in Dual Language Education: A Guide for Leaders (2022) and Engraving School Districts with the Cultural Wealth and Social Justice Advocacy of Latino/a/x Leaders (2023). As a superintendent, she is passionate about supporting student learning and growth by supporting the adults who serve them most closely, and she plans to focus on inclusive instruction for all students. 

Ms. Nieves-Harris has served students and families in MPS for more than 30 years. She started her MPS career as a teacher and later became an administrator, spending almost 20 years as an elementary school principal. Ms. Nieves-Harris manages Learning Communities 3 and 4.   

View all Learning Community 4 schools on a map.

• Louisa May Alcott School  
• Clara Barton School  
• William Cullen Bryant School  
• Jeremiah Curtin Leadership Academy  
• Hayes Bilingual School  
• Humboldt Park School  
• I.D.E.A.L. School 
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School  
• Lancaster School 
• Lincoln Avenue School  
• Lowell International Elementary School  
• Maryland Avenue Montessori School  
• Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language (MACL)  
• Parkview School  
• River Trail School of Agricultural Science  
• Frances Brock Starms Discovery Learning Center  
• Frances Brock Starms Early Childhood Center  
• Westside Academy 

Ms. Grice has served Wisconsin students and families for more than 20 years. Her career includes mentoring new teachers, providing instructional leadership, and executing a school district’s vision. Ms. Grice is an advocate for access and opportunity for all students, and she specializes in leading teams, cultivating positive learning environments, and building strong relational capacity for all stakeholders. 

Ms. Nieves-Harris has served students and families in MPS for more than 30 years. She started her MPS career as a teacher and later became an administrator, spending almost 20 years as an elementary school principal. Ms. Nieves-Harris manages Learning Communities 3 and 4.   

View all Learning Community 5 schools on a map.

• Allen-Field School  
• A.E. Burdick School  
• Clarke Street School  
• Craig Montessori School  
• 81st Street School  
• Fairview School  
• Greenfield Bilingual School  
• Hampton School  
• Honey Creek Continuous Progress Charter School 
• Keefe Avenue School  
• Richard Kluge Elementary School of the Arts  
• Robert M. LaFollette School  
• H.W. Longfellow School  
• Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School 
• 95th Street School  
• Thurston Woods Campus 

Dr. Hernandez has more than 20 years of experience in education. Prior to her current role, she served as Executive Director of Urban School Transformation through a partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and CESA #1, and she also held faculty leadership roles at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Quinnipiac University. Dr. Hernandez is a co-founder of DREAM (Dismantling Racism through Education, Advocacy, and Mobilization) and a co-producer of the Blacktivism in the Academy podcast. She brings a deep commitment to advancing academic excellence and social justice across diverse school communities. 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Mr. Beekman is a proud graduate of Rufus King International High School. With more than 25 years of experience in education, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the Executive Director for Equity and Inclusion for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). He is committed to supporting today's students, fostering positive school cultures, and improving educational equity. Mr. Beekman manages Learning Communities 5 and 6. 

View all Learning Community 6 schools on a map.

• Lloyd Barbee Montessori School 
• Mary McLeod Bethune Academy  
• Luther Burbank School  
• Hamlin Garland School  
• Lowell P. Goodrich School  
• Grantosa Drive School  
• Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School  
• Albert E. Kagel School  
• Byron Kilbourn School  
• Ralph H. Metcalfe School  
• Milwaukee German Immersion School  
• Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts  
• Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School  
• Neeskara School 
• William T. Sherman Multicultural Arts School  
• Albert Story School  
• Whittier Elementary School  
• Clement J. Zablocki School 

Dr. Schneider most recently worked as Superintendent of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park, Illinois. While serving as Director of Student Services for the Stoughton Area School District in the Madison area, he was recognized nationally for his work in systems change and student achievement.  

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Mr. Beekman is a proud graduate of Rufus King International High School. With more than 25 years of experience in education, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the Executive Director for Equity and Inclusion for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). He is committed to supporting today's students, fostering positive school cultures, and improving educational equity. Mr. Beekman manages Learning Communities 5 and 6. 

View all Learning Community 7 schools on a map.

• Audubon Technology & Communication Center  
• Bay View High School  
• Andrew S. Douglas School  
• James E. Groppi High School 
• Alexander Hamilton High School  
• Lincoln Center of the Arts  
• Golda Meir School  
• Milwaukee County Youth Education Center (MCYEC) 
• Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA)  
• Milwaukee Marshall High School  
• Milwaukee School of Languages (MSL) 
• Project STAY High School 
• Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School  
• Harold S. Vincent School of Agricultural Science  
• Washington High School of Information Technology  
• Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning (WCLL) 

Mr. Shapiro has served MPS for more than 20 years. His career has spanned key leadership positions in school support, instructional strategy, and school administration, and his most recent position was Principal and Executive Director of the Bradley Tech Commission. Mr. Shapiro holds multiple Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) licenses and is certified in Educator Effectiveness, Systems Thinking, and School Threat Assessment. As a superintendent, he is focused on driving instructional excellence, improving academic outcomes, and expanding equitable opportunities across all MPS secondary schools. 

Mr. Ogunbowale is an experienced MPS high school principal, having led district schools for 20 years before moving into district leadership. Prior to his current role, he served as an MPS instructional leadership director for eight years. Mr. Ogunbowale manages Learning Communities 7 and 8.    

View all Learning Community 8 schools on a map.

• The Alliance School of Milwaukee  
• Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade School  
• GreenTree Preparatory Academy 
• James Madison Academic Campus (JMAC)  
• Rufus King International High School  
• Rufus King International Middle School  
• Edward A. MacDowell Montessori School  
• Milwaukee Virtual School (MVS) 
• Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented  
• North Division High School  
• Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education  
• Casimir Pulaski High School  
• Riverside University High School 
• Roosevelt Creative Arts Middle School  
• South Division High School  
• Transition High School 
• Wedgewood Park International School 

Dr. Elia Bruggeman is a mission-driven education leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing equity, strengthening instructional systems, and aligning K–12 education with college and career success. She has served in senior leadership roles at the district and state levels, including Assistant Commissioner of Education for the Minnesota Department of Education, Deputy Education Officer for Minneapolis Public Schools, and High School Superintendent for Boston Public Schools. Dr. Bruggeman has led high school redesign, expanded career-connected learning and strategic partnerships, and improved outcomes for historically underserved students. Fluent in Spanish, she brings deep expertise in multilingual education, data-informed decision-making, and cross-sector collaboration to support strong schools and student success. 

Mr. Ogunbowale is an experienced MPS high school principal, having led district schools for 20 years before moving into district leadership. Prior to his current role, he served as an MPS instructional leadership director for eight years. Mr. Ogunbowale manages Learning Communities 7 and 8.    

View all Learning Community 9 schools on a map.

• Assata High School 
• Banner Preparatory School of Milwaukee 
• La Causa Charter School  
• Grandview High School 
• Highland Community School 
• Hmong American Peace Academy (HAPA) 
• Lad Lake Synergy 
• Next Door 

Ms. Schock has served students and families in Milwaukee for more than 20 years. She started her career as a math teacher before becoming a math instructional coach. 

Ms. Haar has been with MPS for more than 25 years. She began her career in education as an elementary teacher in Milwaukee and moved on to various roles that included assessment coordinator, math coach, school performance coordinator, and school support teacher. She also served as the Director of Teaching and Learning at another district. Ms. Haar manages Learning Community 9.