River Ridge welcomes new superintendent

By Addison Mumm

With over 30 years in education, Dr. Jeff Athey is a qualified addition to the River Ridge School District. He began his title of superintendent for the entire school district as well as the K-4 grade principal July 1.

Replacing the temporary district administrator, Tom Andres, Athey is coming into the job with an open mind, open ears and a determined outlook.

Athey has a long history of working in education­— teaching high school English and high school theatre and speech; coaching softball,  baseball, girl’s basketball and  girl’s track; advising cheerleader; directing theatre; and working as an assistant principal and as a principal.

Attending Cornell College in Iowa, Athey received a Bachelors of Special Studies, majoring in English and in theatre and speech, in addition to a coaching minor. Athey started working after graduating from Cornell College.

“Although I really enjoyed teaching and coaching,” Athey said. “I wanted to be a principal.”

He started taking graduate courses through Drake University when he was teaching English at Spirit Lake High School, Iowa. He did not commute to the Drake University campus, but took the course at Buena Vista, Iowa.

In 1988, he became the principal of Dodgeville High School. After three years in the principal position, Athey pursued a Ph.D., through the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

His dissertation research focused on how much authority teachers in a small to medium size school really want. Athey conducted interviews, observed and researched the topic, and in May 1998, the thesis was accepted and he passed.

“The courses weren’t that difficult, but it took many years to finish my dissertation,” Athey explained.

At that point in his life, he was content with his position as principal at Dodgeville High School. He was not ready yet to become a district administrator and did not want to teach at the college level. Years passed and the Dodgeville School District was changing and evolving. When the superintendent position opened in Dodgeville, Athey applied for the job. Unfortunately, he did not get it, and began to look elsewhere to open the new “superintendent” chapter of his life.

Athey was offered the River Ridge superintendent position in late April of 2015.

“I knew the school was looking for an effective communicator and a good leader,” said Athey. “I feel my past has made me qualified.”

Aside from his roles in academic staff and administration, Athey has held many other leadership roles and has been recognized for his hard work. In 1991, Athey received, what is now, the Principal of the Year Award. He was the former state of Wisconsin President of the State Principal Association in 1998-99. He served as Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA) board president in 1998, representing Southwest Wisconsin on the state level. From 1999-2007, Athey represented Wisconsin in the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), promoting education and academic standards.

The first hurdle Athey has to pass, as the new superintendent and elementary principal at River Ridge, is getting to know names.

“I read the monthly news letter, and I’m learning about the district,” said Athey. “I’m also going to have to get used to working more with little kids instead of teenagers.”

Athey looks forward to the school year but wants to address the current situation at River Ridge.

“There is a climate of mistrust and miscommunication of information in the school district,” Athey explained. “At some point as the new leader, I want to say we will get past the state regulations and referendum, and get to where we need to be, to educate kids and help them to their next step in education.”

With the focus on children, Athey hopes to work in a collaborative manner with the staff, students and community members.

“I want people to know I will listen and speak on their behalf, expressing their thoughts and opinions,” Athey stated. “I want the students to make high, but attainable, goals, working their way from elementary school to middle school, high school and whatever their next step may be.”

Although he’s an Iowa native, Athey lives near Madison and commutes an hour and five minutes one way, everyday to River Ridge. Athey is a father of two, Jacob, 31, and Justin, 29. He is expecting his first grandson from Jacob and his daughter-in-law, and he looks forward to spending time with the little one.

“Working with the elementary students will help me as a grandfather,” said Athey.

Other than his children, Athey loves his wife, Julie, and German shepherd, Shyloh.

Athey’s hobbies include walking Shyloh everyday, playing guitar and singing and having date nights with Julie. He also tries to spend as much time with his boys as he can.

“I’m glad there is time to get ready for the school year,” Athey said. “Hope everyone is ready for a great year ahead.”