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Johnson Creek High School has been named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll
Johnson Creek High School has been named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll –
Johnson Creek High School has been named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll – Silver Status for the 2024–2025 school year! 🏅
This national recognition honors schools that are expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses while supporting students on their path to college success. AP School Honor Roll schools demonstrate a strong commitment to helping students enroll in AP courses, take AP exams, and build the skills and confidence needed for college-level work.
Earning Silver Status reflects the collective effort of our students, teachers, counselors, administrators, and families who believe in providing rigorous academic opportunities for all learners. Research shows that students who take AP courses are more likely to attend college, persist, and graduate on time, and we’re proud to foster that college-going culture here at Johnson Creek.
Congratulations to our entire Bluejay community on this outstanding achievement! 💙🎓
Johnson Creek School District Selects Dr. Neil O’Connell as Next Superintendent
JOHNSON CREEK, WI — The Johnson Creek School District Board of Education has announced the
JOHNSON CREEK, WI — The Johnson Creek School District Board of Education has announced the appointment of Dr. Neil O’Connell as the district’s next Superintendent and Business Official. Dr. O’Connell, currently the Middle School and High School Principal, will assume his new role on July 1, 2026.
This selection concludes a comprehensive transition process following the announcement of current Superintendent Mark Gruen’s upcoming retirement. After Mr. Gruen announced his plans to retire effective June 30, 2026, the Board of Education launched an extensive candidate search. The process involved a rigorous review of applications and a thorough interview series designed to identify a leader capable of continuing the district’s momentum.
Ultimately, the search led the Board back to a candidate already within their own hallways.
“After reviewing a strong pool of candidates from across the region, it became clear that the best person to lead Johnson Creek into the future was already here,” the School Board stated in the announcement. “Dr. O’Connell has demonstrated exceptional leadership as our Principal, and his deep understanding of our students, staff, and community makes him the ideal choice to serve as our next Superintendent.”
Dr. O’Connell brings a wealth of experience and strong academic credentials to the superintendency. He holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, business official certification from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and has served as the Johnson Creek Middle/High School Principal for the past decade. During his tenure, he has been an advocate for all students and fostering a collaborative environment for both students and staff.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected as the next Superintendent of the Johnson Creek School District,” said Dr. O’Connell. “This community has become my home, and I am deeply committed to our students' success. I look forward to building on the strong foundation Mr. Gruen has established and working with our talented staff and supportive families to reach new heights.”
The transition comes at a time of stability for the district. Current Superintendent Mark Gruen, will continue to lead the district through the end of the 2025-2026 school year. He will work closely with Dr. O’Connell over the coming months to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities.
“I am thrilled to pass the baton to Dr. O’Connell,” Gruen said. “Having worked alongside him, I know he possesses the vision and the heart necessary to lead this district. Johnson Creek is in excellent hands.”
Community Support Fundraiser for the Strohbusch Family
We invite the community to join us in supporting the Strohbusch family during this incredibly
We invite the community to join us in supporting the Strohbusch family during this incredibly difficult time. On December 21, 2025, our community was devastated by the sudden loss of Cole Strohbusch, a beloved husband and father of three young children, who passed away following a tragic hit-and-run accident.
To help provide comfort and financial assistance to Megan and the children as they face this unimaginable hardship, Culver's is hosting a fundraising event where 25% of all sales will be donated to the family.
Event Details:
Date: January 13, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Participating Locations:
Culver's of Watertown, WI: 1722 S Church St Culver's of Johnson Creek, WI: 525 Village Walk Ln
Please consider stopping by to support Mrs. Strohbusch and her family.
District Exceeds Expectations for 2nd Year in a Row
Johnson Creek School District Celebrates Another Year of Outstanding Growth The Johnson Creek School
Johnson Creek School District Celebrates Another Year of Outstanding Growth
The Johnson Creek School District is celebrating a milestone that reflects the hard work of our students, staff, and community. For the second year in a row, our district earned an “Exceeds Expectations” rating on Wisconsin’s state report card. This time with an even stronger showing. Our overall score rose by 4.5 points, placing Johnson Creek comfortably within the top 20% of school districts statewide.
This recognition doesn’t happen by chance. Year after year, our district has focused on long-term improvement; supporting teachers, refining curriculum, and making sure students have the tools they need to succeed. The latest report confirms that this steady, purposeful work is paying off.
District leaders noted that Johnson Creek continues to shine in several key areas, including middle-school math achievement and positive gains in student growth metrics. When compared locally, our district continues to stand out, ranking among the top schools in the Jefferson County area and placing second within the seventeen schools in the Trailways Conference that receive scores.
A District on the Rise
Superintendent Mark Gruen said the improved rating captures the spirit of the entire Johnson Creek community. “We’re thrilled to see our district take another step forward,” he shared. “Raising our score by 4.5 points and remaining in the ‘Exceeds Expectations’ category says so much about the dedication of our teachers, the work ethic of our students, and the support we receive from families. This is a community achievement.”
One of the strongest indicators in this year’s report card is the district’s continued success with student growth. Johnson Creek’s teacher value-added score remains among the best in Wisconsin, placing in the 90th percentile. For school leaders, that number reflects the everyday work happening in classrooms.
Dr. Neil O’Connell, Principal of Johnson Creek MS/HS, emphasized the impact of strong instructional practice. “When you look at where our students start and how far they advance, it’s clear our teachers are making a tremendous difference,” he said. “Their commitment shows up in the data, but more importantly, it shows up in the confidence and accomplishments of our students.”
Success Built by a Community
The district continues to credit families, volunteers, and local organizations for helping create an environment where students can thrive. Johnson Creek Elementary Principal Mel Enger noted that this partnership is one of the district’s greatest strengths.
“Our community shows up for kids,” Enger said. “Whether it’s encouraging literacy at home, supporting extracurriculars, or partnering with us on different programs, that shared investment has a real impact on student success.”
1st Quarter Honor Roll
The Johnson Creek School District announces its honor roll for the 1st Quarter of the 2025-26 school
The Johnson Creek School District announces its honor roll for the 1st Quarter of the 2025-26 school year. Honor Roll is 3.00-3.49 and High Honor Roll is 3.5-4.00. Those students with (*) after their name indicates they achieved a 4.00 grade point average for this quarter.
HIGH HONOR ROLL
Seniors
Madeline Bennett*, Cole Boehm, Kaylie Brady, Taylor Buglass, Jalen Carlson, Julius Cheaney, Evan Chowanec*, Brady Fincutter*, Colton Granzow, Francisco Gutierrez, Luke Hartz*, Alyssa Hucke, Ryder Kerttula, Wyatt Kwarciany*, Hunter Lamp, Evan Malueg, Gabriella Marose*, Madilynn Marose, Zoe Moser, Ciena Ritter, Maverick Weissmann, Madison Wiedenhoeft, Jason Wildes*, Logan Zerbe*
Juniors
Kaitlin Butler, Annie Chau, Brooklyn Dittmann-Granzow, Makayla Flynn, Rowan Hackbarth, Jonathan Kamuchey, Sophia Le*, Evelyn Lira Esteves, Carlos Martinez, Cael Murfield, Lauren Nadboralski*, Kevin Orona Amaya*, Anna Page, Hailey Penna*, Margaret Rouhoff, Greta Sixel, Violet Sweger, Duncan Thomas, Addison Vaughn*, Benjamin Wagner*, Hayden Wagner, Stuart Wenzel, Joshua West, Lydia Wetzel*, Adam Whitehouse, Cambrya Wollet
Sophomores
Caroline Armstrong*, Keira Bakken, Connor Bennett, Kira Boehm, Ethan Broich, Libby Burbach, Maxwell Chowanec*, Ada Clouse, Lia Constable, Kiara Dach, Gabriela Dos Santos, Olivia Frey*, Michael Heinrich, Allison Jose-Martinez, Daphne Moser, Hazel Moulding*, Lizet Peralta, Corinne Posey, Brendan Ritter, Kayla Rockhill, Moritz Ruppert, Landyn Sabol, Briza Saldana*, Josie Salmieri, Imogen Scheiber, Kennirch Siewert*, Analise Spangler, Paige Swanson, Wyattt Wagner, Sylas Weisnicht, Karli Weller, Sariah Witterholt
Tori Buglass, Brayden Deubel, Bella Estrada, Avril Gutierrez-Flores, Tyler Holland, Vera Johnson, Elizabeth Lapp, Sophie Morris, Justin Reichert, Rodolfo Villarreal
Freshmen
Lucas Dricken, Oscar Garcia Uresti, Christopher Hernandez Cordova, Brooklyn Hoth, Pornthira Kaewprasert, Hickory Klemolin, Elliot Loesing, Isis Medina Marcial, Cayden Murfield, Hailey Oremusz, Bella Rodriguez, Andres Valbuena Quivera, Samuel Ward
Bluejay Update - Foreign Exchange
Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Bluejay Update! Join host Mr. Gruen as he sits
Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Bluejay Update! Join host Mr. Gruen as he sits down with our amazing exchange students Gabriela (from Brazil) and Moritz (from Germany) and dives into their unforgettable experiences studying abroad.
Congratulations Evan Chowanec!
🎉 Congratulations to Evan Chowanec! 🎉 We are proud to announce that Johnson Creek High
🎉 Congratulations to Evan Chowanec! 🎉
We are proud to announce that Johnson Creek High School Senior Evan Chowanec has been named a Semifinalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program!
This honor is reserved for fewer than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. Over 1.3 million students entered the program by taking the PSAT/NMSQT, and only about 16,000 earned Semifinalist status.
Semifinalists now have the opportunity to compete for nearly $26 million in scholarships next spring. To advance to Finalist, Evan must submit a detailed scholarship application, provide a stellar academic record, write an essay, and confirm his scores with the SAT or ACT.
About 95% of Semifinalists become Finalists, and roughly half of Finalists will be awarded National Merit Scholarships, earning the prestigious Merit Scholar® title.
Jersey Mike's Sub Winners for August
Jersey Mike’s Subs in Johnson Creek has teamed up with Johnson Creek Schools to treat one
Jersey Mike’s Subs in Johnson Creek has teamed up with Johnson Creek Schools to treat one lucky student and one lucky staff member to a free sub each month. The rule is simple: you must be present to win!
This month’s winners were Ms. Braunschweig and Paige Wittchow. General Manager Cory Kaschub joined us today to surprise them right in class with their prizes!
A big thank you to Jersey Mike’s for supporting our school and community. We appreciate your partnership!
