Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Gaier, Poeschel
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/18/2016
Gaier Receives Outstanding Educator of the Year (Award - 2016)
Gaier Receives Outstanding Educator of the Year Award
John Gaier, superintendent for the School District of Neillsville, received the Outstanding Educator of the Year award May 4, 2016, from the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators. Gaier has served as the Neillsville district administrator since 1997. (Photo by Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)
By Todd Schmidt
John Gaier, superintendent of the School District of Neillsville, has another distinguished award to add to his trophy case.
The Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) present Gaier with the Outstanding Educator of the Year award at a function held May 4, 2016, in Appleton.
Criteria established by WASDA for consideration of the award includes being responsible for promoting better education in the position they have served and having aided other educators in the development of worthy educational objectives. The award recipient must also be a member of state and national associations and be a member of various committees relating to educational professional associations.
Gaier said it is tremendously humbling to be selected for this award, adding that there are so many others are very deserving of the accolades.
“This award is really a reflection of all the wonderful people living and working in the School District of Neillsville,” Gaier said. “This community’s support of their children and their schools is something in which we can be incredibly proud. I feel blessed to live and work in Neillsville, because of the great kids and wonderful adults that form our community.”
Neillsville School Board President Dewey Poeschel said Gaier was very deserving of the award.
“John is one of the finest men I have ever worked with,” Poeschel said. “He has guided me personally and professionally. He has helped all the school board members turn this district in the right direction. Each policy we discuss is directed at what is the best thing for the kids.
“As far as the school board members are concerned, John deserves all the recognition he gets.”
Gaier graduated from Black River Falls High School in 1977. He received a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Luther College in Decorah, IA, in 1981. He attended Winona State University, obtaining a Master’s degree in educational administration in 1992.
Over the past 31 years, Gaier has worked as a teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, and since 1997, has served as the district administrator for the School District of Neillsville. Prior to his arrival in Neillsville, Gaier was a teacher in North Dakota and Black River Falls.
Gaier has been a leader in the Association for Equity in Funding, which is chartered to advance a better understanding of public school financing and advocate for appropriate funding for all students across Wisconsin.
He has also been an active WASDA member since the beginning of his tenure as superintendent in Neillsville. He served as the representative to CESA #10 on the WASDA Board of Directors for five years, including three years on the Executive Committee. During the 2004-2006 school year, Gaier served as WASDA president.
Aside from his duties on the WASDA Board of Directors, Gaier has served on the WASDA Legislative Committee representing CESA #10 since 2003. After serving three years as vice chairperson, Gaier assumed the role of chairperson of the Legislative Committee this year.
