Endorsed by Respected Community Leaders

Bret Wagner is the best candidate for Madison School Board in the spring election because of his laser-like focus on improving reading. The State Journal editorial board endorses Wagner and his spirited mission in the April 1 election for Seat 3 on the board.

As a retired 42-year educator, I’m impressed with Bret Wagner’s commitment to literacy. With only 47% of MMSD students testing proficient, his data-driven approach and recognition that reading is an equity issue are exactly what we need. His experience as a teacher, engineer, and school parent volunteer will bring valuable perspective to the board. We need leaders committed to the ‘whole school’ who ask difficult questions and seek successful resolutions.

I am proud to endorse Bret Wagner for the Madison Metropolitan School Board. Having served alongside Bret on the Junior Achievement Board for over five years, I have witnessed firsthand his unwavering dedication, intelligence, and action-oriented approach to leadership.

Bret’s positive attitude and strong leadership skills have been evident in various executive board roles, including his impactful tenure as Board Chair. He brings a collaborative spirit that fosters teamwork and drives meaningful change, making him an ideal candidate for the school board.

As a lifelong educator, I deeply value Bret’s background as a former teacher. He understands the challenges educators face and is a passionate advocate for their needs. Bret’s commitment to evidence-based practices and his interest in utilizing data to track success and make improvements demonstrate his forward-thinking approach to education.

I am confident that Bret Wagner will be a tremendous asset to the Madison Metropolitan School Board, working tirelessly to enhance the educational experience for all students and supporting the educators who inspire them. I wholeheartedly support his candidacy and encourage others to do the same.

Bret Wagner brings the right combination of analytical expertise and firsthand classroom experience to the Madison School Board. His dedication to data-driven decision-making and unwavering focus on student success make him an outstanding advocate for Madison and Fitchburg families.

As both a researcher and elected official, I know the importance of making data-driven decisions that serve all our students. Bret Wagner brings that same analytical mindset to education, combined with real classroom experience and a deep commitment to equity. His work leading Cherokee Heights Middle School’s PFO shows he can bring people together to achieve results. He’ll be a strong voice for both Madison and Fitchburg families on the school board.

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.

Bret Wagner will bring to the school board what MMSD needs right now: an understanding of classroom realities and systems-level thinking. 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. Bret is ready to listen and to work with communities across Madison and Fitchburg to help every school work better for students, families, and staff. Please join me in supporting Bret Wagner for MMSD School Board Seat 3.

After meeting with Bret and sharing our beliefs around public schools and the role we play in the lives of the kids who are our mission, I am very appreciative of Bret’s passionate concern for each and every student, and for the teachers and staff members who serve those students. Bret knows the importance of healthy adult relationships for students as they develop skills and attitudes toward the future and their place in the world. As a retired teacher and school principal of almost 40 years, I know and appreciate school board members who have passion for our work, but who are also willing to listen and learn from others to broaden their own personal experience. Bret was a teacher so he has a bit of a sense of what that world entails. Still, he is curious about how teacher’s feel and how they can be supported. He is a parent, so he also recognizes the challenge of dealing with the most cherished aspect of family life. His genuine desire for meeting the academic and emotional needs of each and every kid is evident in the way he speaks, and listens, to issues around public education. Finally, he is willing to listen to perspectives on the role a school board member can play in efforts to support those whose boots are on the ground doing the work that is so critical to the development of positive attitudes and visions of the future.

I’m honored to receive 314 Action’s endorsement. Making decisions based on evidence rather than ideology is crucial for our schools’ success. I commit to bringing this analytical approach to addressing MMSD’s challenges.

My dad is running for school board and you should most definitely vote for him. Why? Because he will make sure that the money from the referendum is spent properly. He will also make sure that kids at school get the support and learning they need to succeed.

I was Bret’s high school chemistry teacher and coach. I was also his teaching mentor as he pursued his journey in the Houston Public Schools. Bret and I reconnected and “talked shop” at one of his son’s basketball games earlier this year. Definite themes streamed through our discussions:

* Bret is fully involved in his children’s learning. I was amazed at the opportunities that his children have had in the MMSD at such a young age.

* Bret has a passion for all education! I saw his love for chemistry and learning many years ago. Now he wants to share his talent with MMSD. He wants to see every child
love learning (and good reading skills is the place to start).

* Bret understands the challenge of education. He has worked with all levels of students and his methods have produced positive results. Bret is a scientist. He’s been in
the classroom. He recognizes that if one teaching strategy doesn’t work for a student, you have to try something different. The goal is to keep trying until you find a way to
reach every student.

* Bret is a team player. He is committed to reaching out to all shareholders so that every student in the MMSD is provided with an excellent education. Since high school
swimming, Bret has always been the teammate to sacrifice in order to do what was best for the team. He is now ready to lead the challenge for MMSD

Bret is ready to work hard for MMSD! I couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments and look forward to his success with the students of MMSD

My dad is running for school board because he wants every kid to have their needs met. He is always involved in the community, either through church, or through the schools. He will make a great board member, and accomplish the goals set.

I’ve watched my husband lesson plan late into the night as a science teacher, solve complex problems as an engineer, and advocate tirelessly for our kids at Cherokee Heights. But what truly sets him apart is how he brings these experiences together – always looking for practical solutions that work for every child. He doesn’t just talk about supporting schools; he lives it every day, whether he’s volunteering at Leopold’s Tito Fest, for Junior Achievement in Madison classrooms or leading the PFO. His commitment to making data-driven decisions while keeping students at the heart of every choice is exactly what Madison schools need.

As an MMSD graduate, current parent, and PTA leader, I know how important it is to have the perspective of others who are directly connected and involved in our schools. Bret, as a former teacher and parent leader, he has empathy and understanding, along with his analytical and thoughtful professional approach to address our district’s biggest challenges. At our school (Nuestro Mundo), I know how much a focus on literacy, especially in a bilingual community, matters to kids across all subjects and grade levels. I believe in Bret’s focus and strategies to improve literacy for all kids.

As parents of children who went through MMSD, as well as teaching at MATC for 30+ years, and experiencing  close up the issues with reading proficiency, we know how important it is to fully implement the structured literacy curriculum introduced two and half years ago throughout MMSD. 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. Bret has done his homework. He’s a former teacher himself. He thinks systematically and he gets how important it is for MMSD to provide the supports and resources that teachers and students need to make reading proficiency by 3^rd grade a reality for all.

When Bret first told me that he was hoping to join the school Board, I felt both proud and relieved – proud that he is living his values, and relieved there is a candidate that I can trust for this important role in our community. Kids are our future and schools are the foundation of their growth. Bret has the experience and judgement for this work, and will make data-informed decisions while taking the time to learn and listen from community members. I’m proud to endorse him for MMSD School Board.

As a family physician, I understand that student success begins with student well-being. Bret not only recognizes this crucial connection but also addresses the challenges facing our schools with a unique combination of analytical precision and heartfelt compassion. His unwavering dedication to student health and his commitment to data-driven solutions are exactly what Madison schools need to thrive. I wholeheartedly endorse Bret for the Madison School Board. He is the kind of visionary leader our school board needs to develop innovative solutions to the challenges facing Madison schools

I’m proud to support my neighbor, Bret Wagner, for our school board. I’ve known Bret for nearly 15 years and trust his integrity, accountability, and dedication to our community. As an engineer, former teacher, and parent of two MMSD students, he brings a unique perspective and a deep commitment to student success. Bret believes in data-driven decision-making and full transparency, advocating for quarterly public reports on school spending to ensure resources are used effectively for classroom support, student services, and infrastructure. He is committed to providing all students with the tools they need to thrive while empowering teachers and prioritizing results. Our schools need strong, principled leadership, and Bret Wagner is the right person for the job.

I am Bret’s aunt and have always been amazed at his dedication to his family, church, job, and every other aspect of his life. I don’t know how he finds time to do everything. He prioritizes what is most important. As a former school secretary for 25 years, I know what goes on in our schools. On the school board, he’ll make a difference for teachers, all students and school policies.

As a former three-term president of the Madison School Board, I enthusiastically endorse Bret Wagner for Seat 3.  Bret brings a fresh perspective to many critical district issues. His professional work at both Epic and Huron make him the right board member for this time. Why? He works with and leads teams every day. Bret’s evidence-based approach to ensuring every student reads at grade level demonstrates both the passion and pragmatism essential for effective board leadership. A good listener and communicator, we need his laser focus and persistence now. Join me in voting for Bret on or before April 1st.

I strongly support Bret Wagner’s candidacy for the MMSD school board, as he possesses the vision, experience, and approach necessary to help our district fulfill its literacy mandate. MMSD has committed to ensuring every child learns to read, and we need leaders at all levels in our district who not only understand the importance of centering literacy but are also dedicated to making this a reality for all students.

In conversation with Bret, I have been impressed by what his systemic approach to problem-solving, ability to listen and collaborate, and background as a high school science teacher and engineer at Epic will bring to the board. His previous service on boards – in particular his budget management experience and managerial oversight, along with his current role as PTO president at his children’s school are essential attributes for a school board member in a district like ours. His focus on literacy and the concrete steps he plans to take to improve literacy outcomes as a board member are invaluable to our district.

As an MMSD graduate from Lowell, Crestwood, Jefferson, and Memorial, a current MMSD parent of 5th and 6th grade scholars, and an MMSD teacher, I am deeply invested in the success of our schools. Our nation’s and MMSD’s record on literacy is unacceptable. We must do everything such that all children are set up for success. I believe Bret is the leader we need on the board to ensure the right to read.

I support Bret for our community, and I encourage others to do the same.

Early voting (absentee in-person) begins tomorrow. Get out there Madison! Check myvote.wi.gov for your polling location.

I have known Bret for many years and always found his character to be exemplary. He will serve both schools and community well.

Bret is a systems thinker with excellent communication and organizational skills. As a former high school science teacher with a chemical engineering background, he deeply understands the challenges of teachers and how the system could be improved to best support them. Bret has the passion and knowledge to collaborate with the MMSD administration to raise literacy rates so that all children are reading at grade level.

When I hear someone talking about belonging, it signals to me that they understand the complexity of being human. Bret Wagner understands that to grow into our full humanity we need places to belong and out of that belonging we learn, grow, create, and become. Creating belonging spaces in schools, classrooms, and extra-curriculars requires us to look at more than just content – but context as well. The context of our communities, our cultures, and current challenged. Bret is ready to help develop communities of learning and growth that will benefit individual students and the larger Madison community. He is a deep listener, a creative problem solver, and has the ability to recognize is others their humanity and their potential. What a gift to a community in need of positive energy, new ideas, and anchored belonging.

I have been involved with the MMSD since the fall of 1995 when my oldest son entered kindergarten at Franklin. I have been involved at the classroom, school, and district-wide level. Although I have not had a child in the MMSD since 2011, I am still paying attention. I think it’s fair to say I have a long, broad view of our district, not to mention a fair bit of institutional memory. I am also a psychologist, which means I follow the data (versus the flowery, politically correct rhetoric). As a longtime literacy activist, I am appalled by how little change I have seen in the literacy rates of our students, especially our most vulnerable students. I am also alarmed by the persistently high rates of chronic absenteeism among our students, again, especially our youngest and most vulnerable students. The lack of urgency around these issues on our school board is maddening. I have met with Bret and been impressed by his level of preparation; his grasp of the issues and their interconnections; and his commitment to listen and learn. Bret is a district parent and a former teacher. He is a systems thinker with vision. He understands the importance of data and how to make good use of it with integrity. Bret would bring a breadth of professional — not just personal — experience and expertise to the board. And that would be a breath of fresh air.

We know Bret as the small group leader for our child’s confirmation group. He has been great with our son! We have then had conversations about Bret’s candidacy and support his ideas to focus on measurable improvements in MMSD and a focus on all kids succeeding. We think it is important that he is a public schools supporter and parent.

With experience as both a public school science teacher and a private-sector engineer, he brings a unique perspective that bridges both worlds. Thoughtful and engaged, he is deeply committed to collaboration, ensuring all voices are heard. Bret will work tirelessly to foster a sense of belonging and support for every student and family in our community.

I’ve known Bret professionally and personally for 20 years. He is sincerely one of the most caring people I know, a devoted father and husband, and passionate in what he believes. I’m ecstatic that Bret has decided to put his time, abilities and talents toward such an important goal of greatly improving the opportunities for our children in the Madison area for reading and other academic pursuits. I 100% know that Bret will devote himself to this cause by listening to parents, educators, and others and then acting appropriately for our children and families.

We both have kids in MMSD and have talked about our frustrations about some of the issues we face in our schools, similar to the ones a lot of parents face. Which is why I know that Bret is the right choice as he personally understands the frustrations and will use the platform to bring about the changes we all want to see.

Bret Wagner has the knowledge and professional skills to work with systems and people to address our most urgent issue: reading and the classroom supports needed to move us forward without excuses.

Bret will work with the school board, schools teachers, parents and children to try to make a better future for our children. He is dedicated and has high ethical and moral values so badly needed in today’s society

I am proud to endorse Bret Wagner for the Madison School Board. Bret’s unique combination of engineering expertise and classroom teaching experience makes him an exceptional candidate. His commitment to data-driven decision-making ensures that schools will be guided by sound judgment and innovation. Bret’s dedication to supporting teachers and fostering equity in education will help create a brighter future for all students. His analytical approach and passion for education make him the ideal candidate to address the challenges facing this district. Vote for Bret!

Madison schools need someone with a clear goals to improve math and reading skills. I have grandchildren in the Madison school district and I am dismayed by the poor scores too many of our schools get.

I am pleased to endorse Bret Wagner for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) School Board. Having known Bret both personally and professionally, I can confidently say that he’s an ideal candidate who brings a unique combination of experience, passion, and a deep understanding of the needs of our students, teachers, and families.

Bret’s background as a former teacher gives him an insider’s perspective on the challenges faced by educators and the importance of fostering supportive, inclusive environments for all students. His ability to listen and learn from others, combined with his analytical mindset and data-driven approach, sets him apart as a thoughtful and effective leader.

Bret will bring fresh energy, deep expertise, and a thoughtful approach to the school board, and I have no doubt that his leadership will make a positive impact on the district.

Honest and smart!! Good listener too. Will consider all sides and make the best decisions for students, teachers and administrators!!

As a fellow educator, and friend of 20 plus years, I am proud to endorse Bret Wagner for the school board. Bret has demonstrated a deep commitment to the success and well-being of students, teachers, and community. His vision for education is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and equity—values that resonate with every teacher striving to make a difference.

Bret understands the challenges teachers face in the classroom and has always been a vocal advocate for providing teachers with the resources and support we need to help our students thrive. His experience and dedication make him uniquely qualified to address the pressing issues in schools, from improving student outcomes to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Bret Wagner has my full support, and I encourage everyone who cares about the future of schools to vote for him.

I strongly recommend Bret for the school board. He’s passionate about education, a great problem-solver, and genuinely cares about the community. His leadership and ability to work with others will make a real difference for students and schools. I’ve seen his ability to work toward shared goals while recognizing the need to prioritize and stay budget-conscious. I also appreciate his understanding that while data is crucial for decision-making, it should never overshadow the feelings and passions that drive meaningful change.

I have known Bret Wagner for 20+ years and I am proud to endorse him for the Madison Metropolitan School Board. Bret’s unique combination of classroom teaching experience and analytical expertise makes him an exceptional advocate for our students and educators. His commitment to evidence-based decision-making, equity in education, and supporting teachers as trusted professionals demonstrates his dedication to creating schools where every student belongs and thrives. Bret’s leadership, compassion, and forward-thinking approach are exactly what our community needs to ensure a brighter future for all. I wholeheartedly support his candidacy and encourage others to join in supporting Bret Wagner for the MMSD School Board.

As a parent of three graduates of Madison’s eastside public schools and a person who has been a friend and teammate of Bret’s for 15 years I am proud to endorse him. Public schools have been a great fundamental resource for our family and our country and Bret is committed to supporting this resource. He is energetic, decent and smart.

Bret Wagner is the right choice for MMSD school board because of his belief in belonging for every student. In a time when there is much skepticism, Bret trusts the value of teacher expertise and experience in relationship building with students and families. When a student is seen, they can thrive as a person and scholar. As a parent, I have seen firsthand how important it is for my kids to navigate the social aspects of schools and find their passions at school. When their identities are supported by staff they can fully learn and be in this world. They’re fed in more ways than one when they walk through those doors. And I’m happy to know Bret Wagner will be part of that village of support for our family and school community.

I’ve known Bret for over 6 years and have enjoyed the many conversations we’ve shared about our kids and how things are going for them with school and their hobbies and interests.

One of the conversations that we’ve constantly circled back to is leadership in the community and our shared frustrations. I really respect Bret’s commitment to not only working to understand the inefficiencies in education, but more importantly, his desire to work to provide sensible solutions.

I am proud to endorse Bret Wagner for school board. Bret is a person of remarkable character—kind, patient, and deeply caring. His intelligence and thoughtful approach to problem-solving make him a valuable asset in any decision-making process. Beyond his professional and intellectual abilities, Bret’s commitment to his church and his deep love for his family are a testament to his integrity and dedication to his community. His values align perfectly with the needs of our schools, and I am confident he will serve with compassion, focus, and a steadfast commitment to the success and well-being of all students.

I’ve known Bret for many years. He’s someone coworkers have always looked up to and he was a model leader. He’s also someone I know to have a good heart and who will always act in the best interests of students. He truly wants to make a positive difference in the world.