Neenah Joint School District teacher Will Westphal has been selected as the 2025 Wisconsin Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Association.

The award is presented annually to one elementary physical education teacher across the state who conducts a quality physical education program based on Wisconsin or SHAPE America physical education standards. This individual demonstrates the use of multiple teaching methodologies, serves as a positive role model, participates in professional development, and demonstrates professional leadership. 

Westphal is in his third year of teaching in the district and currently serves as the physical education teacher at Alliance Charter Elementary and Taft Elementary. He previously taught nine years in Brillion and one year in Oconto. He is a UW-La Crosse graduate and earned his Master’s Degree at Southern Illinois University.

“Mr. Westphal isn’t just a physical education teacher; he’s a true leader and innovator within our school community and the field of physical education,” said Alliance Principal Garrett Zimmermann. “His unwavering commitment to fostering a dynamic and supportive learning environment for every student, from kindergarten through sixth grade, is truly remarkable. He empowers our students to explore their physical potential, instilling confidence and resilience that extends far beyond the gym.

“He actively involves students in setting their own fitness goals, which cultivates a profound sense of ownership and accountability for their learning journey,” Zimmermann added. “His dedication to helping students track their own progress is a testament to his commitment to their holistic development.”

The award will be presented on October 30 at the Wisconsin Health and Physical Education Association state convention in Wisconsin Dells.

Two individuals with Neenah connections have been selected as elementary school principals in the Neenah Joint School District.

Carrie Naparalla, who is a Neenah resident, has been selected as the new principal at Alliance Charter Elementary School, while Kassandra Shipman, a teacher at Tullar Elementary School, will be the new principal at Clayton Elementary School. Both positions are pending approval by the Board of Education.

Naparalla has been the administrator and CEO for the Chain Exploration Center charter school within the School District of Waupaca since 2020. The school is a project-based learning curriculum that serves students from four-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade. She also is in charge of the Waupaca four-year-old kindergarten program.

Naparalla brings 25 years of kindergarten teaching experience, including seven years within a charter school setting. She most recently taught at Journey Charter School in the Ripon Area School District where she was one of the school’s founding members in 2013. She was also the four-year-old preschool coordinator in Ripon for 14 years. Naparalla earned her teaching degree from UW-Oshkosh and a Master’s Degree from Marian University.

“Carrie comes with a strong background in charter schools and project-based learning,” Neenah superintendent Dr. Steve Harrison said. “She brings a passion and commitment to the elementary learning environment. We are fortunate to have such an experienced leader as Alliance continues to expand.”

Shipman has taught first grade at Tullar since 2015. She previously taught one year of first grade in Menasha. Shipman recently completed her principal licensure while earning a master’s degree from UW-Oshkosh. She received her teaching degree from UW-Green Bay.

Shipman has been a primary principal contact in the absence of an administrator at Tullar. She has been a mentor to new teachers and directed student data analysis sessions to assist in academic growth at the school. Shipman also led family involvement activities and events at Tullar.

“Kassandra has been one of the teaching leaders in our district for over a decade,” Harrison said. “She has shown the ability to lead during challenging times in her own school community and we are looking forward to Kassandra using her skills in an enhanced role.”

Both individuals will officially begin their new roles on July 1.

Free summer lunches are back for all children 18 and under who reside in the Neenah Joint School District boundary. Lunches will be served Monday-Friday from June 9-27 at Coolidge, Horace Mann, Taft and Tullar Elementary Schools from noon-12:45 p.m. Students attending summer school may eat with their families from noon-12:20 and the public is welcome from 12:20-12:45 each day.

Lunches will also be served at the Neenah Public Library on Monday-Friday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. June 9-27 and July 7-25. All meals at the schools and the library must be eaten on site.

With 10 years of school administration experience, Shaun Liesch has been selected as the Neenah Joint School District Activities Director. The hire is pending approval by the Board of Education.

Liesch has served as the Activities Director and Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Clintonville Public School District for the past seven years. He previously served as an Associate Athletics Director at The Prairie School in Racine for three years.

Liesch will oversee the athletics, fine arts and student club programs at Neenah High School and Neenah Middle School. He replaces Mike Elkin, who is retiring after six years in the position and 30 total years in the school district as a teacher, coach and administrator.

Liesch created a Student-Athlete Leadership team at Clintonville and created a corporate sponsorship program to raise funds for video boards. He oversaw all district facility usage and created a coaches’ evaluation tool through postseason surveys. Liesch has been an active member of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association serving on the strategic plan committee and a presider at the organization’s two most recent workshops.

Under Liesch’s leadership, Clintonville was recently honored with the WIAA Award of Excellence for the second time in four years. The award was presented to 27 schools statewide this year and recognizes schools’ efforts and achievements in the areas of sportsmanship, ethics, integrity, leadership, character and accomplishment.

At The Prairie School, Liesch coached track and field and was a health and physical education teacher while also serving as the strength and conditioning coach. He previously was the Sports Performance Coach at SPS Sports Performance in Racine.

A three-sport letterwinner in high school at Freedom, Liesch attended UW-Stevens Point and earned a degree in health promotions and health and fitness leadership. He is a Certified Athletics Administrator and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Liesch is also a WIAA licensed official in basketball, track and field, soccer, softball and baseball.

Bringing administrative and teaching experience from schools throughout the country, Ben Johnston has been selected as the new principal at Tullar Elementary. Johnston’s hire is pending approval by the Neenah Board of Education.

Johnston spent the past two years as the principal at Elk Meadow Elementary School in Bend, Ore. He previously served as Dean of Students at Obsidian Middle School in Redmond, Ore. for one year. Prior to his move to the west coast, he served as the Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Technology for the Pequot Lakes (Minn.) School District for seven years. He has nine years of elementary classroom teaching experience in Iowa and Texas from grades kindergarten through sixth grade.

“Ben is passionate about kids and that was evident throughout his interviews and in conversations with those who have worked with him,” said Neenah superintendent Dr. Steve Harrison. “He brings a calm demeanor and a track record of enhancing student success in the schools in which he has worked. We are looking forward to having him develop relationships with the Tullar students and families.”

Johnston has a wide range of experiences, having overseen professional development, gifted and talented programs, technology rollouts and special education co-teaching models in his various roles.

Johnston is a Minnesota native and attended Southwest State University (Minn.). He and his wife, Angie, have nine children, including three that are currently in school.

Five individuals comprise the Neenah Joint School District’s 2025 Hall of Fame class that will be inducted as part of Homecoming festivities. Those inducted will be Tom Bachhuber, Rick Carlson, Ron Fedenko, Wayne Fetters and Kathy (Monard) Sahli.

The group will be honored at a bruncheon on Sat., Sept. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at Bridgewood Conference Center. Tickets will be available beginning in August. This year’s induction brings the total number of inductees to 61 over the event’s 10-year history.

Tom Bachhuber (Class of 1967) - Bachhuber was a pioneer in university career development, serving as a Director at Coe College, the University of Maryland and the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Bachhuber is the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Life Transitions, providing services for adults in career and retirement transitions. He has authored five books about career/life planning and designed the LifeSHIFT retreat offered in 10 cities throughout the country from 2010-23. Bachhuber earned five letters in football, basketball and track in high school. He was an all-conference halfback on the Rockets' football team that finished undefeated and top ranked in 1966. He held the school and conference record in the 220-yard dash. Bachhuber earned a degree in economics from Ripon College where he was a three-year starter in football and ran on two school-record relay teams in track. He earned master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Virginia in counseling. He currently resides in Wauconda, Illinois.

Rick Carlson (Teacher/Administrator 1964-72; 1977-2000) - Carlson spent 31 years in the Neenah Joint School District in a variety of capacities, including high school principal and superintendent. He was hired in 1964 as a social studies teacher and moved to an administrative assistant position in the business office in 1967. After leaving to become an assistant principal in Eau Claire and later a principal in Ashwaubenon, Carlson returned in 1977 as the Neenah High School principal. He served as an assistant superintendent from 1984-92 and then began an eight-year stint as superintendent. Carlson was a visible presence during this tenure and oversaw a school transition from junior highs to middle schools. He also led a referendum to link the Armstrong and Conant buildings and initiated the high school’s block scheduling concept. Since his retirement, Carlson has helped other districts with administrative transitions, working with Don Stevens and Associates. Carlson still resides in Neenah.

Ron Fedenko (Teacher 1966-2000; Coach 1966-present) - Fedenko taught science for 34 years in Neenah at Horace Mann, Shattuck and the high school. He has coached nearly 60 years in Neenah in basketball, cross country, football and track and field. Fedenko coached the girls cross country team to consecutive WIAA state championships in 1982 and 1983 and state runner-up finishes in 1984 and 1993. He coached freshman boys basketball for three decades and continues to serve as an assistant coach with the freshman football team and as the pole vault coach with the boys track and field team. Fedenko has been an organizer of the Neenah Summer Fun Runs since the event started in 1996. Fedenko still resides in Neenah.

Wayne Fetters (Class of 1934) - Fetters was a decorated World War II veteran, earning a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest honor, for his leadership at the Battle of the Bulge. He was in the first platoon of the invasion of Sicily as a paratrooper and was wounded in action in Holland, earning two purple hearts. Fetters was the first Neenah High School student ever to earn four varsity letters in one year, excelling in football, basketball, tennis and track and field. He was employed by American Can Corporation for 31 years, retiring as a plant manager. Fetters was active in the Boys Brigade, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and served 20 years on the Neenah Park and Recreation Commission. He died in 1994 at age 78.

Kathy (Monard) Sahli (Class of 1985) - Monard was a key contributor for three state girls cross country championship teams and placed fourth individually at the 1984 state meet when the Rockets finished as the team runner-up. Monard went on to a successful career at Ohio State University, placing ninth overall at the 1986 NCAA championships and winning the Big Ten track title in the 5000 meters in 1987. She was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame last fall and remains in the top three of the fastest times in three different events in Ohio State history. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Monard now serves as a financial advisor with Johnson Financial Group in Appleton and is an active member of the Women’s Fund of the Fox Valley Region. She currently lives in Neenah.