Bue-Wells coming from Milton
By Holly Neumann
Jan Bue-Wells is the Iola-Scandinavia School District’s new middle school/high school principal.
She is heading to Iola from the Milton School District, where she is a math teacher.
“Being a teacher is pretty isolating,” she said. “We go into our classroom and do our thing by ourselves. There is so much we can learn from watching other teachers. I am very excited to watch and learn from new people.”
In addition to holding a principal license, Bue-Wells also has a curriculum and instruction director license.
“I have a passion for developing, writing and implementing new curriculum,” she said. “In my own practice, I liked to try new methods of instruction and ways to engage students. I encourage others to keep the tried and true, but to be open to new possibilities.”
The biggest challenges she is facing will not revolve around the school district.
“I have lived and worked in my current school district for 25 years,” she said. “I have a trusted mechanic, electrician, plumber, dog sitter and handyman in my phone contacts. My biggest challenges are actually going to come from outside the building because I am new to the area and haven’t learned yet where to find the things I’ll need.
“Inside the building, while the community, staff and students are different. I feel very much at home,” she said. “Coming to this position directly from the classroom is, I think, actually an advantage,” she said. “I have fresh first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be a student and teacher in today’s classroom. I have a deep understanding of the joys and struggles teachers face.”
Bue-Wells grew up in Evansville, with around 100 students in her graduating class.
“I knew everyone in my school and they knew me,” she said. “Since that time, I have worked in larger high schools. The diversity and opportunities offered in those schools is wonderful, but it is easy to get lost in a school of 1,200 students. Iola-Scandinavia appears to be a district that while small in size has lots of opportunities for its students. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Bue-Wells has been a long-time member and past president of the Milton Optimist Club, a service organization that benefits children in that community.
“While my biggest priority this first year will be to acclimate myself to the students, staff and school district, I do hope to find service organizations and a church once I get settled,” she said.
In her spare time, she loves to read fiction novels and prefers a good mystery or beach book.
“I also spend a lot of time outdoors in my vegetable and flower gardens,” she said. “I do a lot of traveling and camping. It was my goal to get to all 50 states with my children and we will accomplish that goal this summer by visiting the Hawaiian Islands.”
Bue-Wells is a single parent whose husband passed away from colon cancer 10 years ago.
“My daughter is a senior at UW-Eau Claire and will graduate with a major in creative writing and minor in Spanish,” she said. “My son will graduate from high school in June and will be heading to the state of New York to play hockey on a junior team.”