3/4/23 Kinziger Recommended for Ripon HS Principal
4 March 2023 News
Ripon, WI – The Ripon Area School District announced Mr. Bill Kinziger as the recommended
candidate for the principal position at Ripon High School beginning July 1, 2023. He will replace
Randy Hatlen whose last day will be June 30, 2023. Mr. Kinziger is currently the Ripon High
Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, a position he has held for 8 years. Previously, he was a
social studies teacher at Ripon High School and Lumen Charter High School for 25 years. Mr.
Kinziger was the unanimous choice of the sixteen member selection team following three full days
of interviews over the past two weeks. The Ripon School Board will vote on the recommendation at
a Special Meeting on March 6, 2023.
The Ripon High School Principal position was posted from February 1 – February 14, 2023. Staff and
parents were invited to participate in a survey regarding characteristics they valued in their next
principal. Fourteen people applied for the position through WECAN. One applicant was internal.
Through a screening process six candidates were invited to interview on February 22, 2023. Three
of the candidates had previous administrative experience. The selection team consisted of
members of the school board, administration, parents, students, teachers and staff. Four candidates
were invited back to participate in a second day of interviews on March 1 and 2, 2023. The full day
for candidates began with a second interview with the selection team and a building tour with
students, and then ended with a Meet & Greet with staff, parents, and students. Other events of
the day included a writing sample, lunch with four school board members, an interview with the
administrative team, and a driving tour of the district.
Prior to joining the staff at Ripon High School, Mr. Kinziger was a social studies teacher in Howard
Lake-Waverly Winsted in Minnesota for 5 years. He has an undergraduate degree in broadfield
social studies from St. Norbert College, a master of Education from Saint Mary’s University. Mr.
Kinziger completed his principal licensure program through Marian University.
Mr. Kinziger was an integral part of a group that developed a virtual instructional plan for our
students to continue their education. Over the past 8 years, he assisted in implementing a current
high school writing initiative which has helped maintain Ripon’s high ACT scores compared to the
averages of the state and surrounding districts. Mr. Kinziger was also an essential part of developing
and implementing the mission and vision of Lumen Charter School, a project based school for Ripon
High School students which at one point included about 20% of the high school population.
References described Mr. Kinziger as professional and dedicated, commenting on his amazing
ability to build relationships with students. He was noted as having strong communication and
interpersonal skills. Mr. Kinziger is described as being “crucial to developing the overall climate and
culture of Ripon High School” as well as having “created an environment where all students feel
welcomed and comfortable to be themselves. In addition it was stated, “he has a great rapport with
our coaches and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure coaches have the support they need to be
successful.”
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