Category: Wally in the Media

Wally was chosen as Gilman’s District Administrator and K-4 Principal during a special school board meeting on July 29th, as communicated on Gilman’s Facebook page (page 1, page 2).  This decision came after first-choice Chuck Norton from Westby declined an interim administrator position in the district.

Also posted to Gilman’s Facebook page was a letter penned by Wally.

WalterLeipart.com thanks the users who alerted us of this information via our Submit Accomplishment page.

After less than a year at Sisseton, KWAT Radio News reports that Wally has resigned as superintendent effective August 14, 2017.  This comes just weeks before the fall semester is set to begin on August 23rd.

Aside from Wally stating that he wishes to “pursue opportunities closer to family,” we have found a posting where it appears Wally is offering coaching and mentoring services “to encourage and support others to achieve their goals in learning and life.”

A visitor to our site alerted us that The Inter-County Leader had reported Wally was named a finalist for a superintendent position at the School District of Luck, Wisconsin.  We have since learned that the position was ultimately offered to Cory Hinkel on April 27th, as recounted by the Leader.

The Sisseton School District had approved hiring Wally for interim superintendent and recently agreed to a two year superintendent contract to begin on July 1st.

But perhaps this news isn’t all roses and rainbows to Wally:  We recently discovered that he was named a finalist for the superintendent position in Prairie Farm, Wisconsin.  The Barron News-Shield reports that Wally and two other candidates will visit Prairie Farm on March 15th “as a final step before the board hires a new school superintendent.”

In response to open records requests from the media, Merrill Area Public Schools has released text messages where Wally and Michele, calling each other “baby,” conspired to keep their “story straight.”

Details regarding the severance package Wally received were also released.  The agreement instructs Merrill Board President Jen Seliger to write Wally a letter of recommendation.

Read more and see the transcribed text messages:

• Text messages reveal relationship between former administrators
• Texts tie resigned Merrill school administrators
• Texts released between former Merrill School District administrators

Illinois’s East Dubuque Schools have selected Tori Lindeman as their next superintendent.

Read more at TH Media:  East Dubuque Schools officials name district’s next superintendent

The Wausau Daily Herald reports the Merrill School Board has held a “secret” closed session meeting Wednesday for an undisclosed “presentation by administrators regarding a personnel matter.”  The article continues to explain that in a phone interview regarding the meeting, School Board President Jen Seliger denied any connection to Wally or his resignation.

Perhaps more interesting is the paper’s persistence in attempting to obtain records related to Wally and Michele Jahnke’s resignations, which were curiously submitted on the same day.

Read the Revised Special Board Agenda and the Wausau Daily Herald Article for more information.

TH Media reports that the East Dubuque, Illinois School Board will require the results of background checks to be received before they choose their next superintendent.

Wally has been named a finalist for the East Dubuque, Illinois superintendent’s position, along with two other “very strong” candidates.

TH Media was quick to report on Wally’s leave of absence and subsequent resignation from Merrill.

Read more at TH Media:

• 3 finalists announced for East Dubuque schools superintendent
• East Dubuque superintendent finalist recently resigned from similar post after leave

Also see Wally’s Résumé

WAOW Newsline 9 reports on Wally’s resignation, abruptly ending a Merrill school district investigation regarding misconduct by Wally.

Read more on WAOW’s website:

• Merrill school leaders resign; no word on the probe of the pair
• No answers in probe of Merrill school leaders

Merrill Area Public Schools places Wally on paid administrative leave amidst allegations of “personnel problems.”

Read more on the Wausau Daily Herald website:  Merrill administration probe may take 2 weeks