DE PERE – Foxview Intermediate School Principal Andy Bradford is the interim superintendent of the Unified School District of De Pere, effective immediately.
A little over a week after Dr. Chris Thompson made public his intention to step down May 28 due to an illness, the district announced that he’s done so already.
The school board made its selection for 2026-27 interim superintendent Monday during closed executive session.
An end date for Bradford’s term of service hasn’t been announced yet, according to District Communications Director Pam Pirman.
Bradford has been with the Unified School District of De Pere for the past 22 years, starting in 2004 when he served as assistant principal of Foxview Intermediate School. In 2008, he began an 18-year tenure as its principal.
Bradford graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in education in 1997.
He received his master of science degree in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch College and is slated to complete his UW-Superior Education Specialist/Superintendent master’s degree program this year.
Before coming to the Unified School District, he taught fourth graders in Pulaski for seven years, and while there, in 1999, he was recognized with a Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction award, according to an article by St. Norbert College.
St. Norbert awarded him with its Young Alumni award in 2004, and he served as an adjunct professor there from 2013 to 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In 2021, he traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the Blue Ribbon Schools Award on behalf of De Pere.
He launched a therapy dog program two years ago at Foxview Intermediate School, welcoming Oakley the Bernedoodle to the district’s pack. He serves as Oakley’s handler.
Oakley will be assigned a new handler when Bradford moves his office into the District office headquarters so that Foxview students can continue to benefit from Oakley’s presence.
According to St. Norbert, Bradford served as the assistant varsity hockey coach for five years, and for seven years, he served as the Phantom Elite Summer Player development program director for the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association.
He’s been involved with hockey on various levels, including WAHA, which he directed February 2017 to 2026, and currently is Central District Director for USA Women’s Hockey.
He says lots of parallels exist between his roles on the ice and his roles as an educator.
“I believe it’s my role and responsibility to serve others: in the arena of hockey, to help grow the game, and in the arena of education, to create conditions that result in success for our students,” he said in an interview with the Press Times Tuesday.
Pirman says the district is discussing who will serve as interim principal of Foxview as well as salary and compensation for Bradford for stepping in as interim superintendent. Currently, he’s doing both jobs.
Thompson earned $175,229 in salary and a benefit package of $27,875 in 2024-25, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Bradford said he is feeling the normal new job jitters that everyone feels when beginning a new endeavor that’s important to them.
“There’s nerves that are involved, and so for me, it’s just getting acclimated and getting familiar with the specific duties of the role and working closely with the board and with our administrative team and with our wonderful teachers, getting connected and ensuring a smooth transition here and looking ahead to our goals and priorities for next year,” he said. “But certainly closing out the year on a high note as our seniors graduate soon and students move on.”
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