Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JEAN NORDINE
Ewen — After Ewen-Trout Creek School District Principal-Superintendent Alan Tulppo accepted the position of general education director with the Gogebic- Ontonagon Intermediate School District, E-TC decided to split the vacant position into a part-time superintendent and full-time principal.
Dave Radovich, former superintendent at Bessemer, has accepted the part-time superintendent job and E-TC teacher Patti Witt was hired as full-time principal.
Radovich grew up in Ontonagon before leaving the area in 1972. He received his bachelor’s degree at Winona State University, then his master’s at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
He is in his 40th year of education, having spent the majority of that time in Hermantown, Minn., teaching and holding an administrative position. The past five years he was with the Bessemer School District.
The challenge for the new superintendent is to continue the work that Tulppo has set in place.
Radovich said, “Alan Tulppo had the district in fantastic shape. I want to continue to move the district forward.”
He likened the challenge to a two-edged sword, saying, “You don’t have to make changes, but picking up where he left off, it makes it easier to step in, but where do you go from there?”
He continued, “But as things change we have to make changes, taking into consideration what the kids need and want because they’re our customers.”
Radovich said state and federal mandates make things difficult as there is no funding attached to the mandates, which typically require extra personnel and time. He plans to “squeeze every nickel” to keep the school district solid.
The least of Radovich’s challenges is the staff, as he said, “E-TC has a good teaching reputation, with seasoned educators.”
Joining the veteran teachers will be new hires Brenden Broniewica as math teacher and Kayla Peterson for first grade. Broniewica is from Illinois and Peterson from Crystal Falls. It will be the first year of teaching for both.
Radovich said his favorite quote is, “There are no problems, only opportunities to excel.” He said he lives by that and that every day is a good day, some better than others.
“I have a fire burning in me for education. Education is our future. I believe I have contributions to make in improving education for students in the state and in the local district.”
