New Principal Hired at Ben Franklin Elementary

Steve Bold always knew he’d work in education, and he has for nearly 30 years.

Bold is bringing that extensive experience to Ben Franklin Elementary School this year as he becomes its next principal.

Bold most recently served as principal of Kennedy Middle School in Germantown for 15 years. He has been an assistant middle school principal, a middle school teacher, elementary school teacher and worked with emotionally disturbed students. He still serves as an adjunct professor at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon.

Bold has a master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in special education.

He was the Germantown School District Administrator of the Year in 1998-99, has been a presenter at various staff and administrator development conferences and conventions at Concordia, UW-Madison and more, and has served as facilitator for several initiatives involving curriculum, crisis, a school improvement plan, mentoring and a student assistance program.

He is excited to come to the Menomonee Falls School District.

“I’ve always had a real high degree of admiration for the degree of progressiveness of the Menomonee Falls School District, especially in the capacity of Dr. (Patricia) Greco,” he said. “I look forward to working with the transformational things happening with technology and the strategic plan and the high degree of staff commitment to the direction of the district.

“Menomonee Falls is moving in a direction that is just so exciting for where we need to be going for education,” he said.

Bold knew his direction early in life. His most significant experience came in working with his older brother who has a disability. That’s where Bold received his greatest satisfaction, and made a career out of it.

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” he said.

Bold replaces Kathy Marks, who is retiring at the end of this year.

”My experience as member of Menomonee Falls School District is one that I can only help to create the premier elementary school in the state, and I want to be part of a team that can accomplish that,” he said.

Bold said he will look at every child as if he or she was his own in terms of what they need to be cared for and what they need to learn.

He said he will support his teaching staff by rolling up his sleeves and working with them.

“I like to work alongside teachers instead of saying do this on your own,” he said. “Through combined efforts we can make great accomplishments.”

Bold lives in Brown Deer. He has four children from age 7 to 16.

The School Board could approve Bold’s contract on Monday night, June 11.