Aug. 28—SUPERIOR — Alicia Willoughby is back at the district from which she graduated four years ago. The new special education teacher at Great Lakes Academy is one of five new teachers at the School District of Superior who are alumni.
Another alumnus, Deana Wells, moved up in the ranks to take on the role of assistant principal at Superior High School.
Willoughby said returning to the district is a "full-circle moment."
"I'd already started as a long-term sub in the spring at the middle school and it was fun to be back," she said. "Everyone is so welcoming, and it's really fun to see old teachers and old principals. People kind of remember me from high school or any other grade and are excited about me rejoining in a new role."
Willoughby said she aimed to return to her district after attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
"Everyone talks about how it's one of the best districts, so I was really looking forward to entering it from that perspective," Willoughby said. "And it was the area I wanted to live in."
Willoughby said she's felt very supported in the transition into her teaching role.
"I feel like the Great Lakes staff is really strong and I'm excited to have that nice community to help me transition," she said.
Wells never left Superior. Before graduating in 1997 she was on the first Spartan girls soccer team. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Superior, she coached the SHS junior varsity team.
In 2003 she became the varsity coach and started her teaching career as a long-term substitute. She went on to teach physical education for 21 years.
"At first it was a little strange to have people who were my teachers and coaches and principals here when I first started," Wells recalled. "Eventually those people retire and more come in and soon you're the staff that has been here a while."
Wells said she's excited her new role as assistant principal will give her a chance to interact with students in different ways.
"I've filled in for a couple of years when an admin was out for one reason or another and I liked being able to have those different conversations with kids about school, helping them get to that graduation stage and planning beyond that," she said.
Her advice for new new teachers: "Listen to the kids and find out where they're coming from before you make judgments," Wells said. "Do your best to do the best for kids every day and you'll have a really rewarding career."
