Schools

New St. Monica Principal Has Big Plans

Halstead comes to Whitefish Bay after 32 years experience in public education and seven years in Catholic education.

Michael Halstead has a passion for education that prevents him from retiring.

After a 32-year career in public education that started with teaching middle school science at Milwaukee Public Schools and ended as the director of pupil services in Germantown, Halstead announced he was retiring.

Then, six weeks into retirement, he applied for an interim principal position at St. Mary's in Hales Corners, where he eventually became the permanent principal. After two years at St. Mary's, he spent two years as principal of St. Robert's School in Shorewood and three years as principal of St. Charles School in Hartland.

His return from retirement gave him a new experience in the world of Catholic education, and in the role of principal.

"I had never been a principal before, but I found out in my latter years that maybe that's where I should have started because it was the most rewarding for me," he said.

Halstead left St. Charles in Hartland with the intention of retiring, but when he saw a principal opening at St. Monica School in Whitefish Bay, the idea of returning to the North Shore was too tempting to pass up.

"I always had a great deal of respect for the sense of community and the mission in the North Shore area," he said. "I thought a homecoming of sorts would be nice."

Halstead is replacing former principal Julie Ann Robinson, who will now be the principal at Holy Wisdom Academy West.

During his time in public schools, he supervised many special education programs – an important background that is often lacking in Catholic schools

As he prepares for St. Monica's first day of school on Monday, Halstead said he is looking forward to implementing a new world languages program for students grades 1 through 8. Made possible with a partnership with Rosetta Stone, the school would offer students to pick one of the following languages: French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Latin or Italian.

Halstead said the school has also updated its technology infrastructure, and the school plans to further integrate technology into the curriculum.

Halstead's third goal for the school year is to create a service-oriented culture that promotes hands-on volunteer opportunities to help those in poverty across the Milwaukee area.

Halstead said he believes the school is in the process of creating something special.

"I believe in what I'm doing, and I think the leadership in this community is going to take the school to a place above where it already is," he said. "I think there's a certain amount of synergy building in the community, and I think the community wants this to be a very special place. "


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