Milwaukee City Wire

Milwaukee Public Schools has launched a new “learning community” model this fall, affecting more than 150 schools across the district. The initiative is designed to support academic achievement with a particular focus on literacy.

Under the new structure, each learning community is overseen by an academic superintendent who works from within a school building rather than the district’s central offices. These superintendents are tasked primarily with supporting principals as instructional leaders and implementing the district’s updated literacy plan.

The shift reduces the number of schools managed by each leader. Previously, regional superintendents were responsible for as many as 25 to 30 schools; now, each academic superintendent will oversee approximately 15 to 20 schools.

District-level operations managers have also been assigned to allow principals and academic superintendents to concentrate on educational matters. Academic superintendents report to Chief of Schools Dr. Keely Roberts, while operations managers report to Deputy Superintendent Eduardo Galván.

Departments such as Black and Latino Male Achievement (BLMA), Gender Identity and Inclusion (GII), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Restorative Practices, School Performance Improvement, and their support staff will now be based in schools and linked directly to one of eight new academic superintendents and learning communities.

Six learning communities serve K-5 and K-8 schools, while two others cover middle schools, high schools, and K-12 institutions. A ninth community includes contracted schools like independent charter schools authorized by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors as well as partnership alternative programs.

Schools in each community are distributed throughout Milwaukee so that leaders can share ideas across different student populations.

Laurie Fiorenza leads Learning Community 1 alongside School Operations Manager Maurice Turner. According to the district: “Dr. Fiorenza comes to MPS with nearly 20 years of experience as a collaborative and student-centered educational leader. She most recently served as Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning at Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 in Illinois, where she led curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning across the district.” Mr. Turner is described as “an MPS alumnus whose children and grandchildren attended MPS schools,” with recent service as an instructional leadership director for Milwaukee Public Schools.

Learning Community 2 is headed by Academic Superintendent Carletta Noland with Maurice Turner again serving as operations manager. The district notes: “Dr. Carletta Noland is a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience in education.  She is a collaborative and solutions-oriented leader with a priority on equity; she most recently worked as a regional superintendent for MPS.”

Sylvia Romero-Johnson oversees Learning Community 3 along with Marybell Nieves-Harris managing operations. The release states: “Dr. Romero-Johnson has close to three decades of experience. She started her career as a paraprofessional, working as liaison, interpreter, and translator for Spanish-speaking students and families.” Ms. Nieves Harris has worked for MPS for over three decades including time spent as an elementary principal.

Ebony Grice serves Learning Community 4 together with Marybell Nieves-Harris: “Dr. Grice arrives with more than two decades of educational experience in special and regular education, instructional coaching, consulting, and school and district administration.”

Jennifer Hernandez leads Learning Community 5 accompanied by Demetri Beekman: “Dr. Hernandez most recently served as the executive director for urban school transformation... She comes to MPS with more than two decades of experience.” Mr. Beekman brings over twenty-five years’ educational experience including statewide work on equity initiatives.

Kurt Schneider heads up Learning Community 6 alongside Demetri Beekman: “Dr. Schneider most recently worked as superintendent of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804... While serving ...in Stoughton Area School District... he was recognized nationally for his work in systems change.”

Aaron Shapiro leads Learning Community 7 supported by Gregory Ogunbowale: “Mr. Shapiro has 20-plus years of experience in MPS ... focused on driving instructional excellence...” Mr. Ogunbowale previously led several high schools before joining district leadership roles.

Elia Bruggeman directs Learning Community 8 together with Gregory Ogunbowale: “Dr. Bruggeman...has worked in education for more than 30 years ...including roles ...as assistant commissioner of education in Minnesota.”

Bridget Schock manages Learning Community 9—covering contracted schools—with Supervisor Lisa Haar assisting: “Ms. Schock has served students ...for 24 years... starting her career as a math teacher...” Ms Haar has held multiple roles during her more than twenty-five year tenure at MPS including assessment coordinator and teaching director positions elsewhere before returning to Milwaukee.

This reorganization aims to foster collaboration among educators citywide while emphasizing literacy improvement efforts throughout all grade levels.