Mark Holzman has served as Superintendent of the Manitowoc Public School District (MPSD) since July 2015, providing vision and direction for the district and its approximately 5,000 students and 700 employees across 10 schools. The MPSD has 1 high school, 1 virtual K-12 charter school, 2 middle schools and 6 elementary schools.
Originally from the Madison area, Holzman has served at every level of K-12 education, including baseball and basketball coach; social studies teacher; multicultural student advisor; dean of students; elementary principal, assistant junior high principal and high school principal; director of human resources; and coordinator of secondary education. He served as Assistant Superintendent of Student & Instruction in the Sheboygan Area School District from 2011 to 2015, before joining Manitowoc as Superintendent. He also has been an instructor at Lakeland University.
In collaboration with Manitowoc administrators, teachers, support staff and the Board of Education, Holzman has provided leadership and consensus-building on MPSD efforts including:
Realignment of grade levels and restructuring building usage, which resulted in $350K in annual labor cost savings, substantial improvement to student and teacher efficiency and retirement of a facility for possible sale and savings.
Passage of two (2) three-year operational referenda for $4.3M and $3.5M, respectively, to support district-wide K-12 educational programming and opportunities and fund capital and technology needs (59% and 62% voter approval).
Renovation of an athletic stadium with $1M in private community fundraising to make substantial field, bleachers and related improvements to Rubick Field
Increased support of student mental health by hiring 5.0 FTE counseling and mental health wellness staff, while avoiding labor cost increase by reallocating savings realized through other staff reductions
Creation of a new K-12 virtual charter school to provide a virtual instructional option for families during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, as well as research, planning and implementation of COVID-19 health and safety mitigation measures.
Development of district budgets that lowered the school tax rate to the lowest levels in three decades while maintaining and enhancing current programs, as well as staff wages and benefits
Advocacy for diversity and social justice to ensure student achievement for all students by examining district learning outcomes and removing barriers to improvement.
Holzman also volunteers on multiple local civic boards and serves as the state Legislative Committee representative for CESA 7. He was named Citizen of the Year in 2020 by the local Rotary Club for spearheading a comprehensive school safety program in partnership with police and fire departments. He is an avid sports fan and competitive runner and baseball player. Holzman and his wife Shawn, a fifth-grade teacher in Howards Grove, have two sons, Ashton and Caleb.
EDUCATION:
Marian University: Ph.D. Candidate / Educational Leadership - present
Cardinal Stritch University: Educational Leadership / District Administrator License - 2007
Marian University: Educational Leadership / Principal License - 2001
Lakeland College: M.Ed. / Educational Leadership - 1996
Lakeland College: B.A. / Secondary Education, Social Studies - 1991
Specialized training in equity and social justice leadership, organizational development, executive leadership coaching, professional learning communities and classroom technology.
VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY & CIVIC LEADERSHIP:
Manitowoc-Two Rivers YMCA Board of Directors, Finance Committee - since 2017
Boys & Girls Club of Manitowoc Board of Directors - since 2019
Capitol Civic Center (Manitowoc) Board of Directors, Finance Committee - since 2020
Project Lakeshore (Business Growth Roundtable), Board of Directors, Governance Committee - since 2018
Lakeland University Hall of Fame Board of Directors (Chair since 2014) - since 2011
CESA 7 State Legislative Committee Representative - since 2020
Noon Rotary (Manitowoc) Member - since 2015
WIAA Advisory Committee - 2014-2020
Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce - District Member, Education Committee - 2009-2012
Mark Holzman • Superintendent
920-686-4781
Laurie Braun • Secretary to the Superintendent
920-686-4783