Former MMSD Board Members and Community Leaders Endorse Bret Wagner for School Board

Christina Gomez Schmidt, who served on the MMSD Board from 2020-2023, agrees with Wagner’s approach: “Bret Wagner will bring to the school board what MMSD needs right now. His commitment to data-driven decision-making and coherent governance, combined with his focus on early literacy and the science of reading, will serve our district well.”

Fitchburg Alderperson Gabriella Gerhardt emphasized the importance of Wagner’s literacy focus: “Bret’s passion for the issue of literacy is an important one, and it’s a conversation we need to be having right now. He will bring an analytical perspective and experience as a teacher to the board.”

Longtime MATC instructor Marline Pearson and retired UW Transportation Planner Rob Kennedy highlighted the critical need for evidence-based reading instruction: “Bret gets it. Teaching children to read is the most powerful tool schools have to address the racial achievement gap. For 30 years, too many of our children in Madison and across the country have been failed by non-science- based reading approaches. The data on MMSD speaks for itself—over half not reading at grade level. The time is now to focus resources and attention on full implementation of MMSD’s new science of reading curriculum.” 

Bret Wagner is a former science teacher, engineer, and parent of two MMSD students. He leads the Cherokee Heights parent-faculty organization and serves on the Junior Achievement board of directors. His campaign focuses on making reading proficiency Job #1 for the district.