New Superintendent Named in District 200

The Board of Education Wednesday named a Wisconsin educator as the next superintendent of District 200.  Dr. Richard Drury, superintendent of the Muskego-Norway School District southwest of Milwaukee, was appointed to succeed Dr. Gary T. Catalani, who is retiring in June after serving as the District’s top administrator for the last eight years.

Dr. Drury was introduced to the community during the Board of Education meeting at Hubble Middle School following a day of visiting schools and meeting with administrators and union representatives.  Board Members voted unanimously to bring Dr. Drury to District 200 and later approved a three-year contract that includes a base salary of $200,000 a year.

“We are extremely excited to bring Dr. Drury to District 200 as the next superintendent,” Board President Andy Johnson said.  “He has the background, the commitment, and the personal characteristics that will serve our communities well and enable us to move to the next level of excellence.”

The Muskego-Norway School District is a K-12 system with 4,900 students in five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school.  Dr. Drury has been superintendent there since 1995.

Following his introduction, Dr. Drury spoke briefly, saying he is “excited to become a part of this exceptional community and have the unique opportunity to lead a strong, dynamic team of professional educators.”  He pledged to work with the community and staff “to expand on District 200’s strengths and continue to strive for academic excellence for all children.”

Dr. Drury was among three finalists that emerged from a group of five who were presented to the Board by the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.  After a second round of interviews, two Board Members visited each of the candidate’s respective school districts.  The Board selected Dr. Drury as their unanimous choice on January 3 and confirmed details of the selection with him on February 7.

“During the interview process we relied heavily on the feedback we received from residents and staff during focus groups last fall,” Mr. Johnson explained, noting that Dr. Drury is the candidate that best meets the needs expressed during those meetings.  He said confidentiality was important during the process because the three finalists are sitting superintendents who were recruited by the search firm.

Details of Dr. Drury’s transition plans are being developed and will be announced soon.  The Board is also planning additional opportunities later in the school year for the staff and public to meet the new superintendent.

Dr. Drury brings with him 18 years of experience as a superintendent in Michigan and Wisconsin, 12 years as a principal, and seven years as a classroom teacher.  Prior to going to Muskego-Norway, Dr. Drury was superintendent in two Michigan school districts.  He earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, a masters’ in Curriculum and Supervision from Northern Illinois University, and an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature from Eastern Michigan University.

He and his wife, Candace, have two married sons.