When I stepped into the role of Director of Pupil Services in the Oshkosh Area School District, one of my
priorities was ensuring that our schools were prepared for any crisis that could threaten the safety and
lives of our students. As the opioid epidemic continued to impact communities across Wisconsin, it
became clear that our schools needed to be equipped to respond to potential overdoses—just as we are
prepared for cardiac events or severe allergic reactions.
I began working with key stakeholders throughout the community, and together we used data on the
prevalence of opioid-related incidents locally and statewide to better understand the scope of the
problem and identify best-practice solutions. I facilitated conversations with school leaders, nurses, and community partners to address concerns, outline protocols, and build consensus.
With the support of organizations such as Start Healing Now, the Clinton Foundation, and the
Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review Committee, we secured naloxone boxes for every
secondary school in the district, along with training for staff on recognizing and responding to
overdoses. This initiative was not about expecting the worst—it was about being ready to save a life if
the worst happened. Today, our schools are better prepared, and our staff are empowered with the
knowledge and tools to respond. For me, this work underscores our shared responsibility to protect
students—not just academically, but in every aspect of their well-being.
The opioid crisis has profoundly shaped both my professional and personal life. In my role as Director of
Pupil Services, I have witnessed the far-reaching effects of opioid misuse through the experiences of
students who have lost loved ones—or, tragically, their own lives—to addiction. These stories drive my
commitment to educating students about the dangers of drug use and misuse, while providing parents,
families, and our community with resources to address this urgent issue.
My connection to this crisis is also deeply personal. Many years ago, my wife and I were blessed with a
child through adoption. Her birth mother, who was struggling with opioid addiction, made the difficult
and selfless decision to place her child for adoption, recognizing that she was unable to provide the care her child needed at that time. Our daughter was born exposed to opioids and spent her first weeks of
life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, experiencing withdrawal symptoms associated with Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome. My wife and I spent countless hours by her side, witnessing the painful effects of
a condition she had no role in creating. Thankfully, she recovered and had grown into a healthy, thriving
young person. Yet those early experiences remain a powerful reminder of the profound impact opioid
addiction can have on children and families. They continue to motivate my commitment to prevention
efforts, early intervention, and supporting initiatives that help protect young people from the
devastating consequences of substance misuse.
I would like to see reforms that address addiction as a public health issue rather than solely a criminal
matter. This includes expanding access to affordable, evidence-based treatment programs, increasing
funding for early intervention and prevention efforts, and integrating mental health and substance use
services. Legislative frameworks should prioritize diversion programs over incarceration for nonviolent
drug offenses, while community frameworks should strengthen wraparound supports such as housing,
employment training, and peer recovery networks. Additionally, stigma-reduction campaigns and
educational initiatives are essential to fostering a culture where individuals feel safe seeking help.
Schools play a critical role in prevention and early intervention. We should equip educators with training to recognize early warning signs of substance use, implement evidence-based prevention curricula, and create strong school-to-community referral pathways for at-risk students. School-based mental health professionals should be accessible to all students, and partnerships with local agencies can ensure timely support for both youth and their families. By fostering safe, supportive learning environments and embedding substance use education into broader wellness initiatives, schools can be a powerful force in breaking the cycle of addiction.