Whitefish Bay Hires Special Education Director

The Whitefish Bay School District has hired Dr. Stacy Gahan to serve as its director of special education and pupil services.

Gahan currently serves as the director of the Waukesha County Special Education Cooperative and as the assistant director of student services in the Elmbrook School District. After beginning her career in psychology within the private sector, Dr. Gahan worked for three years as a school psychologist in the Whitefish Bay School District.

She left Whitefish Bay to accept a position on the administrative team in Elmbrook in 2007 and now is pleased to return to Whitefish Bay in the newly-developed role of Director of Special Education and Pupil Services.

The role was created upon the recent resignation of Mark Kapocius, the director of human resources and special services. The district split Kapocius' previous role into two positions and modified Ellen Feider's part-time role as the director of special education to a part-time special education program support specialist. The district will also hire a new part-time human resources manager.

Gahan received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned both a master’s degree and her doctorate in psychology from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.  

In a news release, the district's interim superintendent Laura Myrah said Gahan has received rave reviews from her colleagues and is excited to return to Whitefish Bay.

"Gahan’s current administration role, previous experiences, and strong education and research background make her highly qualified to assume the leadership responsibilities that come with the position of Director of Special Education and Pupil Services in Whitefish Bay," Myrah said. "During reference calls, colleagues of Dr. Gahan used phrases to describe her such as, child-centered, bright, top-notch employee and person, conscientious, and 'poised to perform on the top 1% of her field.'"

The Whitefish Bay School Board will act on Dr. Gahan’s contract Wednesday night. Gahan will begin her duties as later in August.