Wauwatosa, WI – On Monday, April 24, three new members were sworn into their new roles as Board Members of the Wauwatosa School District Board of Education. Mr. Phillip Morris was sworn into seat #4, Mrs. Liz Heimerl-Rolland was sworn into seat #5, and Dr. Lynne Woehrle was sworn into seat #6. Incumbent Mrs. Jessica Willis was affirmed into seat #7.
*Phillip Morris is a highly accomplished leader, business executive, civic leader, and community builder. He has a deep passion for making a positive impact, and has dedicated himself to empowering young people and fostering positive change in his community. As an executive leader and board chair for a local youth-focused nonprofit organization, Morris has led numerous successful efforts to provide mentorship, educational resources, and leadership training to underserved youth. His dedication to youth advocacy has earned him recognition from both local and national organizations. His innovative approach to community building has also resulted in successful partnerships with leading corporations and nonprofits. Morris is a highly skilled leader whose abilities extend far beyond the nonprofit sector. He has a proven track record of success in the private sector, where he has demonstrated his ability to build culture, lead teams, and drive results. With a wealth of experience in the insurance and finance industry, he has a deep understanding of the importance of innovation and collaboration in achieving business goals. In addition to his professional achievements, Morris is a trusted civic leader who has volunteered with numerous organizations and has served on the boards of several nonprofits. He has also been appointed by both the current and previous mayors to board positions within the City of Wauwatosa, and currently serves the community as one of its Police & Fire Commissioners. His unwavering dedication to the community, its youth, public safety, and schools has earned him respect as a role model for young people and professionals alike.
*Liz Heimerl-Rolland lives on the Eastside with her husband, three wonderful children and lots of pets. She has several years experience in education and program management and currently works at the Medical College of Wisconsin. During her free time, she likes to read, try different restaurants and hang out with family and friends. Heimerl-Rolland is honored to have the opportunity to serve the Wauwatosa community as a School Board member.
*Lynne M. Woehrle, PhD is a parent of three students in the Wauwatosa School District and long-time community leader as co-founder of Tosa Together and board member for Friends of Hartung Park since its inception. She is a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she directs the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding program in the College of Nursing. As an educator, she is excited to support the positive growth of Wauwatosa’s public schools and the District’s commitment to excellence, diversity and inclusion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening and yoga.
Jessica Willis was appointed in June 2022 following the resignation of then-president Mr. Steven Doman. She has served as a public educator for 16 years, and during the 2021-22 school year, she served as a substitute teacher in the Wauwatosa School District. Her long history of driving inclusion goes back to 2006, when she worked for Columbus City Schools in Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Willis also partnered with the City of Bexley and the Bexley City School District to increase inclusivity, as well as recruit and retain teachers of color. She is heavily involved in the PTA at Jefferson Elementary School, where she helped create a welcoming committee for incoming families and students.
“I look forward to working with this talented group of leaders,” stated Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger, School Board President. “The broad range of expertise and perspectives that exist on the Board of Education will undoubtedly be beneficial to the students of Wauwatosa and the future of our educational community. I am excited to work with the Board to drive student success.”
Board members are elected to a three-year term, with elections held for three members one year, and four members the next year. There is no election in the third year unless a vacant seat exists. At the end of three years, members may run for re-election.
Members serve on a voluntary basis with no financial compensation.
Current Wauwatosa School Board members are:
Dr. Eric Jessup-Anger, President, Seat #3
Dr. Jenny Hoag, Clerk, Seat #1
Mr. Michael Meier, Seat #2
Mr. Phillip Morris, Seat #4
Mrs. Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Seat #5
Dr. Lynne Woehrle, Seat #6
Mrs. Jessica Willis, Seat #7
The Board holds an annual reorganization meeting on or within thirty days after the fourth Monday in April. The Board elects, from among its members, a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and a Clerk. This year, elections for Board Officers will take place on Monday, May 8, 2023.
*Bios have been provided by candidates directly. The Wauwatosa School District takes no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions.
About Wauwatosa School District
Wauwatosa School District is a high achieving, forward-thinking, richly diverse public school district serving approximately 7,200 students and families. The District consists of 16 schools: 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and the Wauwatosa Virtual Academy. Among these are two choice schools: Wauwatosa Montessori and Wauwatosa STEM, a charter school. A full STEM program is offered at Underwood Elementary and at both middle schools. Additionally, the District provides education for several county programs including Children’s Hospital and Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Youth and Family Justice Center. The educational community’s long history of excellence has been recognized both regionally and nationally.
For more information, visit the Wauwatosa School District website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
